The National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) are a national network of researchers searching for disease causes, preventions, treatments and cures that will improve human health and lives worldwide. The NPRCs also serve as a resource to researchers worldwide and train future generations of researchers.
The National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) improve health by conducting research that leads to new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases. Researchers at the NPRCs have:
Through these contributions, the NPRCs play a vital role in bringing scientific breakthroughs from the lab to healthcare providers’ offices — ultimately helping people live longer, healthier lives.
The NPRCs are always working to determine disease causes, preventions, treatments and cures to help people across generations and the world live longer, healthier lives. Research advancements include HIV prevention, a cure for hepatitis C, deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson’s disease and approval of the immunosuppressive medication Belatacept for use with kidney transplants patients, as well as current advancements in brain-machine interfaces. The NPRC were also instrumental in helping researchers understand and diagnose COVID-19, and develop treatments. Learn more about the top 10 research accomplishments of the NPRC centers here.
The NPRCs are committed to providing high quality, compassionate care for the research animals. Better care means less stress for the animals and, therefore, helps ensure research results are scientifically valid. As part of our commitment to high-quality care, the NPRCs follow regulations and guidelines from the:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare administers the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy). This policy requires research institutions to ensure appropriate care and use of all animals involved in research the PHS conducts or supports. In addition, the PHS Policy requires institutions to use the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (“the Guide”), which sets the framework for the humane care and use of laboratory animals.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA is responsible for establishing standards and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), a federal law governing the use of animals in research.
NPRC-specific institutional animal care and use committees (IACUC) – each IACUC reviews and approves studies before any research begins. After approval, IACUCs conduct six-month reviews of an institution’s program for humane care and use of animals and inspects animal facilities, makes recommendations regarding an institution’s animal program, facilities or personnel training, and reviews requests for research protocol modifications.
The NPRCs are committed to conducting research responsibly and ethically. Our guiding principles include the 3Rs:
These principles help advance health while minimizing the number of animals included in research.
Rhesus macaques are the primary species used in NPRC research programs because of the biological links between their systems and those of humans. Research programs also include baboons, cynomolgus and pigtail macaques, marmosets and squirrel monkeys. Animal species are carefully matched to research studies to ensure valid scientific results that will be applicable to human health.
Most animals at the NPRCs are socially housed in groups of 2 to 200. NPRC behavioral management employees provide species-typical opportunities to forage, groom and play. These efforts, as well as the daily healthcare attention the animals receive, mean life expectancy of NPRC animals is greater than animals that live in the wild and face predators, untreated disease, habitat loss and food shortages.
The seven NPRCs have 18,000-20,000 animals, including baboons, three species of macaques and marmosets. The centers also have rodents, including mice, rats and voles.
Yes. Animals share many anatomical, genetic and physiological similarities with humans, making them essential for studying complex diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes and HIV. Including animals in studies helps researchers understand causes, evaluate treatments and develop preventions – all to save and improve lives.
Yes. Research with animals only happens when questions cannot be answered other ways. Because nonhuman primates share many anatomical, genetic and physiological similarities with humans, this makes them ideal models for human health research.
The NPRCs invest in new methods and technologies to help researchers study diseases with as few animals as possible. These new approach methodologies (NAMs) include:
NAMs can’t fully replace living systems, but they provide valuable insights that complement traditional research procedures.
Researchers use computer models, and cell cultures, when appropriate, and doing so reduces the number of animals in research. However, there is no way to completely replace research with animals because it is not yet possible to fully duplicate a functioning, living system.
The NPRCs do use mice and other rodents in research, but their living systems can’t always provide as much information as monkeys can. Researchers may use mice to address their initial questions and then include monkeys to further their studies and answer more complex research questions. This continuum helps reduce the number of animals in research. It also accounts for the genetic closeness of nonhuman primates to humans to provide researchers with a comprehensive and comparable research model.
No. While NAMs offer alternatives and complement traditional research methods, they cannot fully replicate the complexity of a living body. Animal studies remain necessary to ensure new treatments and preventions are safe and effective. As NAMs evolve and are validated, they will continue to help reduce the number of animals needed in research.
Without research at the NPRCs, medical progress and, therefore, human lives would be at risk. Any delay in finding causes, preventions, treatments and cures would negatively impact the NPRCs’ commitment to helping people across generations and the world living longer, healthier lives.
Each center maintains a breeding colony of animals that veterinary, colony management and genetic personnel oversee. Sometimes, in order to meet specifications of research protocols, the NPRCs may purchase animals from independent breeders who are also subject to strict USDA oversight.
Veterinarians, veterinary technicians and animal care technicians take care of the animals. Colony management and behavioral specialists also provide care for NPRC animals. Many of the NPRC veterinarians are board certified, and many animal care personnel also hold certifications. The NPRCs provide compassionate care for animals is a top priority and helps ensure research results are scientifically valid. NPRC staff monitors animals daily in order to quickly address any concerns, and all animals receive comprehensive annual checkups, much like humans.
The animals eat a nutritionally balanced diet of monkey chow as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Animal enrichment supplements the expert animal care the NPRCs provide and includes social housing, climbing structures, swings, hammocks, mirrors, music, videos and more. These options encourage the monkeys to socialize, play, exercise and stay curious. Wild monkeys spend a lot of time searching for their food, so the NPRCs provide foraging opportunities for our research animals. The monkeys pick seeds, fruit, nuts and other snacks out of artificial turf mats, food puzzles, chew toys and tubs of shredded paper. Employees also spread chew toys with yogurt and peanut butter, and fill treats with low sugar frozen juice blocks.
The seven NPRC are located around the country: California, Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Learn more about the NPRCs using our interactive map here.
All seven NPRCs engage in community and educational outreach, which may include facility tours. Please contact the individual centers for more information.
The NPRCs employ approx. 2,100 people. This includes researchers, animal care, behavioral management, colony management and veterinary personnel as well as community outreach, facilities management, finance and human resources employees.
The NPRCs are a resource to NIH-funded researchers who need additional expertise and access to animal models and scientific capabilities. Each year, the NPRCs conduct and enable approximately 1,000 research studies that make breakthrough discoveries of causes, preventions, treatments and cures possible. Learn more about collaborating with the NPRCs to conduct NIH-funded research here.
In addition to federal and IACUC oversight, each NPRC also has a National Scientific Advisory Board (NSAB) comprised of internationally renowned scientific experts in their fields. Each NSAB meets annually and provides advice and guidance on planning and program activities to support continued and balanced scientific growth of each NPRC.
AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. AAALAC Int. accreditation is recognized as the gold standard for laboratory animal care. More than 1,100 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 50 countries/regions have earned AAALAC accreditation, including the NPRCs, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC’s program, in addition to complying with all applicable local and national laws that regulate animal research.
We encourage you to explore other pages on this website, including our News page, which we frequently update with our latest scientific advancements.
You can find the center closest to you on this page; all the NPRCs conduct local outreach to schools, community groups and others, and many offer tours. If you don’t live close enough to participate in a tour, you can virtually visit a research center via this video: Love Care Progress, Inside a Nonhuman Primate Research Facility.
We also encourage you to follow us on X; our handle is @NPRCnews.
