Mission and Vision
We want people across generations and around the world to live longer, healthier lives.
Committed to discovering causes, preventions, treatments, and cures.
Our researchers conduct every study with a shared commitment to improve human health. Because of this highly-regulated research, medical breakthroughs happen and lives improve.
Areas of Research
The scope of our research ranges from A to Z. Alzheimer’s, AIDS, COVID-19, Ebola, Parkinson’s and Zika are just a few of the many health issues we’re fighting every day.
NPRC Timeline
For more than 50 years, the National Primate Research Centers have been studying health issues that affect millions of people worldwide.
1960s
On a mission to improve human health, Congress passed legislation creating the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Regional Primate Research Centers program to provide scientists with specialized resources to conduct research with nonhuman primates.
1970s
The centers focused on building a sustainable supply of nonhuman primates to support health-related research, which included behavioral biology, reproductive biology and respiratory diseases.
1980s
These regional centers continued to demonstrate the value of nonhuman primate research through their work that ranged from fighting AIDS to developing in vitro fertilization.
1990s
Increasing prevalence of diseases, emerging health concerns and aging populations led to new areas of study all while the centers expanded their infectious disease research and began using pluripotent stem cells, a research tool NPRC researchers pioneered that is helping make people healthier.
2000s
The NIH designated the centers as National Primate Research Centers in recognition of their impact on research programs throughout America and the world. Research successes during this time included developing a vaccine that prevents AIDS in monkeys and exposing the effects of nicotine on pregnancy.
2010s & Beyond
International health crises, such as Zika virus, the prevalence of other infectious diseases as well as a growing public interest in aging-related diseases, mental health and neurodegenerative diseases continue to motivate the NPRC researchers in their searches for causes, preventions, treatments and cures.
