SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER

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NATIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTERS TURN 60

Southwest National Primate Research Center is proud to be part of the success of the national network established in the 1960s.

The National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs), which are committed to helping people live longer, healthier lives through nonhuman primate research, are celebrating six decades of support from Congress and the National Institutes of Health in 2022.

The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) at Texas Biomed is the youngest of the seven NPRCs. SNPRC was officially established in 1999 to help support biomedical research across the nation with its breeding colonies. Texas Biomed was well positioned to join the network, having housed a variety of primate species for scientific research since the 1950s.

Deepak Kaushal, PhD, oversees the SNPRC $20+ million-a-year operation, which encompasses about 2,500 primates and 150 staff dedicated to animal health and welfare. He works closely with the NPRC network, synergizing resources and coordinating research.

“Having overlapping but varied areas of expertise, we are able to cover a larger gamut of human diseases and conditions, while being mindful not to waste precious resources,” Dr. Kaushal says.

SNPRC is unique among NPRCs. It the only one hosted by a nonprofit research institute, not a university. It is the only NPRC with a biocontainment safety level 4 lab on campus. It is also the only center with three different breeding colonies: Indian rhesus and cynomolgus macaques, African baboons and New World marmosets.

SNPRC hosts breeding colonies of (pictured top to bottom) macaques, baboons and marmosets. It is the only NPRC with baboons, and one of only two with marmosets.

SNPRC Director Deepak Kaushal and Associate Director of Research Corinna Ross

SNPRC primates have helped improve understanding of tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis C, neurodegenerative diseases and more.

Macaques are proven models for infectious disease research. Baboons make good models for metabolic studies in areas like diabetes. Marmosets are useful for studying aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

“Our focus has been more diversified in species than other centers,” explains Corinna Ross, PhD, who is SNPRC’s Associate Director of Research and colony administrator. “We have the same goal and mission, though, to serve as a resource for nonhuman primates for translational work.”

While many people dream of a future where Artificial Intelligence and organs-on-a-chip can solve health crises, animal models are the best-available example of how an entire body will react to a vaccine or treatment. As our closest relatives, nonhuman primates also help researchers learn crucial details about the earliest stages of diseases, which can unlock new interventions. “Some people are under the impression that we should be able to only conduct studies in petri dishes or on the computer,” Dr. Ross says. “We are not at that point yet.”

The primates at SNPRC have made significant contributions to human health.

“People might be surprised to know these monkeys helped test the COVID vaccines that have gone into the arms of millions of people around the world,” Dr. Kaushal says. “They have also been instrumental in breakthroughs in artificial reproduction and lung treatments for premature infants.”

With so many global health challenges — diabetes, drug-resistant bacteria, the next pandemic virus — the NPRCs and nonhuman primates will continue to play a central role in finding vaccines, treatments and cures in the decades to come.

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SNPRC’S COMMITMENT TO CARE

SNPRC is committed to not just meeting, but exceeding, the highest standards of research animal care. Recent inspections from federal regulators and external reviewers found that SNPRC has once again passed its checks with flying colors.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture came for one of its unannounced visits. Officials inspected facilities, checked on animals and reviewed scientific protocols to see if all federal Animal Welfare Act regulations are being followed. “We do our absolute best to care for the animals,” says Attending Veterinarian Diana Scorpio, DVM, MPH. “When you get a clean report from USDA like we did this spring, we feel such great pride in our animal care program.” This follows last fall’s review by AAALAC International, which is a nonprofit organization promoting the humane treatment of animals in science. AAALAC renewed SNPRC’s full accreditation status for three years. “Being accredited means we are adhering to the highest standards — and in some cases, exceeding the standards — for use and care of research animals,” Dr. Scorpio says. “AAALAC looks at everything related to animal care, from housing to

These animals are a privilege to work with. They deserve to have the best of the best.

— Attending Veterinarian Diana Scorpio, DVM, MPH

breeding to the enrollment of nonhuman primates in studies.”

This external validation underscores SNPRC’s efforts to go above and beyond caring for its animals, which are a precious resource. Global companies and research organizations like the National Institutes of Health are also more likely to partner with SNPRC.

“A lot of organizations use the accreditation and inspections to decide who they want to work with,” says Dr. Scorpio, who is also a Professor and Associate Director of Veterinary Resources and Research Support. “If you don’t have those, you don’t have trust.”

SNPRC provides creature comforts the nonhuman primates need. The macaques, baboons, marmosets and chimpanzees have plenty of shade, shelter, food and around-the-clock medical care. They have indoor-outdoor housing and are intentionally placed in species-appropriate social groups or pairs. A trained team of experts in primate biology and behavior design species-specific enrichment activities to ensure the animals are engaged and displaying typical behaviors. “My philosophy is that we are advocates for the nonhuman primates to make sure we are doing right by them and by the science,” Dr. Scorpio says. “They are providing us with information that directly helps the global good.”

If there ever came a point when animal research is no longer necessary, Dr. Scorpio says that would be welcome. In the meantime, animal models remain the gold standard for capturing critical aspects of living physiology and are vital for discovering biomedical breakthroughs.

“As veterinarians, respect for animal life is part and parcel of our profession,” Dr. Scorpio says. “These animals are a privilege to work with. They deserve to have the best of the best. We want to ensure they are given the highest level of care.”

IMPACT

Animal Care Complex Groundbreaking

Breaking ground on the new Animal Care Complex (from left to right): Cory Hallam, Texas Biomed VP, Business Development and Strategic Alliances; Walter Embrey, Texas Biomed Board of Trustees Member and Facilities Committee Chair; Deepak Kaushal, Director, Southwest National Primate Research Center; Akudo Anyanwu, Texas Biomed VP, Development; Joanne Turner, Texas Biomed Executive VP, Research; Andy Anderson, Texas Biomed Board of Trustees; Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff; Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, District 6, City of San Antonio; Andrew Hunt, 2021 President, Founder’s Council; Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, District 3, City of San Antonio; State Representative Steve Allison, District 121, Texas House of Representatives; Matt Majors, Texas Biomed VP, Operations.

Texas Biomed and the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Animal Care Complex in December 2021. The complex will provide brand new indoor/outdoor housing for up to 800 nonhuman primates and advanced veterinary care capabilities. The state-of-the-art facilities will enable SNPRC to continue providing exceptional animal care, and expand its breeding colonies to help address the nation’s severe shortage of nonhuman primates for biomedical research. Work has begun on site prep, with construction slated to begin summer 2022 and finish late 2023. The complex is the first major construction project of the Institute’s 10-year strategic plan, and will accelerate Texas Biomed’s growth in infectious disease research.

BUILDING FOR INNOVATION IN HEALTH

A rendering of the new Animal Care Complex by Flad Architects.

Global Center for biosCienCe

Texas Biomed is Building for Innovation in Health Our vision for a new central research building has a fresh name and look. The planned Global Center for Bioscience will represent the epicenter of our campus and provide a home for multi-disciplinary team science that bridges research, community and culture.