Nonhuman Primate Signature Program

The Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Primate Signature Program provides funds, expertise and infrastructure to advance the Clinical and Translational Science Award network's translational research goals. Each year the program awards pilot grants that will assist researchers and investigators to explore the feasibility of their ideas using nonhuman primates (NHPs). Awarded studies are conducted at Wake Forest with significant technical and faculty support, and no requirement for awardees to be on-site. Extramural investigators from CTSA-network institutions and Wake Forest CTSI-supported KL2 scholars are eligible for these funding opportunities.

Mission

The Primate Signature Program provides support to the Vervet Research Colony (VRC), an NIH national biomedical research resource (P40-OD010965), which is the most highly characterized U.S. monkey population relative to pedigree, phenotype and genotype. This colony consists of approximately 300 Caribbean-origin African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus), spanning neonatal to geriatric ages. The colony is managed to optimize studies related to aging, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neonatal health. In addition, historical and lifespan phenotypic data and extensive tissue and data repositories are available for use. The colony also serves as a platform for training veterinarians and other professionals in biomedical research, husbandry, clinical care, and the management of animal resources. All of the animals in the colony are mother-reared in species-typical social groups.

Researchers interested in information about the colony should contact Dr. Matthew Jorgensen. Those interested in obtaining samples or purchasing animals should complete the Vervet Request Form.

Feasibility Study Funds

Each year the Primate Signature Program provides funds for feasibility studies to assist investigators interested in exploring an idea using the vervet colony. Awarded studies are conducted at Wake Forest with significant technical and faculty support with no requirement for awardees to be on-site during the study.

Examples of past studies have included the assessment of:

  • Safer infant anesthesia
  • Novel PET imaging tracers
  • Immune response of vervets to a native HIV envelope protein
  • Therapeutic compound in lowering intraocular pressure
  • Neonatal microbiome and its influence on health and disease
  • Impact of diet and eating pattern on markers of diseases of aging

Leadership

Kylie Kavanagh, DVM, MS, MPH
Program Leader