# Core 1: Nonhuman Primate Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $59,219

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Core (Core 1)
The primary gap impeding development of an effective vaccine to prevent congenital CMV (cCMV) is the lack
of understanding of the immune responses that are required for protection of the fetus against cCMV
transmission and disease. A clear understanding of the immunologic and virologic factors that impact cCMV
outcome requires application of highly-relevant animal models that both closely mimic human fetal disease and
can be immunologically modulated. To guide the development of an effective vaccine against cCMV, this
Program proposes to utilize a novel NHP model of cCMV infection - placental transmission of RhCMV of
pregnant rhesus monkey dams— to define the maternal virus-specific immune responses and properties of the
virus populations that impact cCMV infection. Due to the highly technical requirements of these studies and
limited availability to RhCMV seronegative breeding age females, implementation of these RhCMV challenge
studies in pregnant dams requires multiple levels of coordination and oversight. Thus, we propose to establish
a centralized Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Core, which will coordinate all maternal/fetal NHP experiments,
samples, and data between two national Primate Research Centers (Tulane National Primate Research Center
and California National Primate Research Center) and the Program's Projects 1&2. Specifically, the NHP
Core will support this Program through the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: Coordinate management of
breeding-age, RhCMV-seronegative female rhesus monkeys to enable maternal/fetal rhesus monkey studies
(Projects 1&2); Aim 2: Organize, coordinate, and oversee maternal/fetal rhesus monkey studies and sample
distribution (Projects 1&2, Core 2&3), and Aim 3: Produce, characterize, and monitor levels in vivo of
standardized RhCMV hyperimmune globulin (HIG) from RhCMV-seropositive monkeys to be used for passive
infusion of natural maternal anti-RhCMV antibody to understand the impact of viral Fc receptors on placental
transmission and fetal pathogenesis (Project 2). Oversight and sample and data management support
provided by the NHP Core is essential for the overall Program to achieve the shared goals of defining the
immunologic and virologic determinants of cCMV transmission which will provide immunologic targets for
vaccine design to eliminate cCMV infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982187
- **Project number:** 5P01AI129859-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sallie R. Permar
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $59,219
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2020-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982187

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982187, Core 1: Nonhuman Primate Core (5P01AI129859-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982187. Licensed CC0.

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