Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is shedding light on how vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy could help protect babies from some of the harmful effects of maternal smoking. 

The Problem: Smoking and Pregnancy 

Smoking during pregnancy is known to harm fetal development, particularly the lungs, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels. Nicotine crosses the placenta, directly impacting the growing fetus and often leading to long-term respiratory issues for children born to mothers who smoke. 

The Study: Can Vitamin C Help? 

Researchers at OHSU, led by Dr. Eliot Spindel and Dr. Cindy McEvoy, conducted a clinical trial involving pregnant women who were unable to quit smoking. All participants received a standard prenatal vitamin with 60 mg of vitamin C, but one group also received an additional 500 mg of vitamin C daily. 

Key Findings: Improved Placental Blood Flow 

Using Doppler ultrasound, the team measured blood flow in the umbilical cord. They found that vitamin C supplementation improved placental blood flow in smokers, bringing it closer to the levels seen in nonsmokers. Examining placentas after birth, researchers also observed improved blood vessel development and overall placental function in babies whose mothers received extra vitamin C. 

“It is clear that placental development is abnormal in women who smoke. …In this human clinical trial, it is important to note that some, but not all, abnormalities were prevented by vitamin C intake,” said Dr. Spindel. 

Long-Term Benefits for Babies 

Follow-up studies showed that children born to mothers who took extra vitamin C had better lung function at 3 months, 12 months, and even at age 5 compared to those whose mothers did not receive the supplement. 

Limitations and Continued Risks 

While vitamin C supplementation improved some aspects of placental and fetal health, it did not prevent all the negative effects of smoking during pregnancy. Risks such as premature birth, reduced brain development, and stunted growth remain, and vitamin C does not address these issues. 

Why Not Just Quit Smoking? 

Despite public health efforts, more than half of women who smoke continue during pregnancy. Nicotine is highly addictive, and genetic factors can make quitting especially difficult for some individuals. Importantly, the study also notes that nicotine from vaping and other products likely poses similar risks to fetal development. 

What’s Next? 

Vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy may help mitigate some of the harm caused by smoking, particularly by improving placental blood flow and supporting better lung function in children. However, quitting smoking remains the best way to protect both maternal and fetal health.

Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) has uncovered new insights into the lifespan of nonhuman primates in captivity. Dr. Hillary F. Huber and her team, including collaborators from Wake Forest University, have compiled the largest database to date on primate lifespans, challenging long-held assumptions and providing crucial information for future research. 

The study, which included data from 12 primate species across 15 institutes, including all seven National Primate Research Centers, revealed that the median lifespan for many primates used in biomedical research is lower than previously reported. For example, baboons, often thought to live up to 37.5 years, were found to have a maximum observed lifespan of 30 years in research settings, with a median age at death of just 11.5 years. 

This discrepancy highlights the importance of using median age rather than maximum lifespan when considering animal models for human aging research. As Dr. Huber points out, “Having a more accurate understanding of how long nonhuman primates live in captivity is essential for researchers to correctly correlate health and disease observations in primates to humans.” 

The study’s strict methodology—limited to animals with known birth dates and death dates who died naturally or were humanely euthanized after developing a serious disease such as cancer—ensures robust data. This approach provides a more accurate picture of primate health span – the length of healthy life free from major diseases – which aligns closely with current geroscience research focusing on improving quality of life throughout the human lifespan. 

The Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomed played a critical role in this study, contributing valuable data and expertise. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of National Primate Research Centers to improve animal care, medical treatments and research methods – all supporting the broader goal of advancing animal and human health. 

A study led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) reveals that using cannabis during pregnancy may negatively affect fetal lung development and future respiratory health. The findings, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, are the first to directly examine how maternal THC consumption impacts offspring respiratory health using a nonhuman primate model. 

Key Findings from ONPRC Research 

The research team, including Dr. Jamie Lo and colleagues at OHSU, administered daily THC edibles to pregnant nonhuman primates and compared them to a placebo group. They used fetal MRI scans to assess lung development during pregnancy and performed pulmonary function tests on the infants at six months old. 

Results showed that prenatal THC exposure led to significantly decreased lung volume starting early in fetal development, a difference that persisted at six months of age. The study also found changes in lung gene expression and DNA methylation, which may help explain why the effects of THC exposure during pregnancy could last a lifetime. These changes could increase the risk of children developing chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma later in life. 

Rising Cannabis Use and the Need for Evidence-Based Guidance 

Cannabis use during pregnancy is becoming more common, especially in the first trimester, as some expectant mothers turn to THC products to manage symptoms like morning sickness. However, limited data on the safety of cannabis in pregnancy has left many patients and clinicians without clear guidance on the risks involved. 

Dr. Lo, the study’s lead author, emphasizes the importance of these findings for healthcare providers and patients.  

Dr. Eliot Spindel, senior author and professor at ONPRC, added, “Children born with decreased lung function at birth are more likely to follow a lower trajectory of lung function as they age, increasing their risk to develop childhood asthma and respiratory diseases as adults.”  

What’s Next 

The ONPRC team hopes their research will help inform evidence-based recommendations regarding cannabis use during pregnancy and guide clinicians in counseling their patients. While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects, this study raises important concerns about the potential impact of prenatal THC exposure on respiratory health. 

The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) is at the forefront of providing hope for patients who face life-threatening conditions.

Take Batten disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no cure. In 2018, researchers at the ONPRC identified a naturally occurring mutation in Japanese macaques that mimics Batten disease in people; this specific species of macaque is the only known nonhuman primate model in which the condition occurs naturally. The ONPRC team’s long-term stewardship and care of this unique research species continue to provide hope for curing a terminal disorder.

Similarly, recent news about the development of the first personalized gene therapy for “Baby KJ” catalyzed a new treatment pathway toward individualized therapies for rare diseases. The integrative research approach included new approach methodologies (NAMs) and studies in long-tailed macaques (LTMs) to assess safety before treatment (Musunuru et al., 2025).

Both examples emphasize the continuing need for research with animals.

If the United States is serious about making our country healthy, we must protect the full research ecosystem that makes discovering causes, preventions, treatments and cures possible. That structure includes NAMs and research with NHPs when no other scientific models are appropriate. Anything less stands to jeopardize scientific rigor, safety and validity, stall movement toward future breakthroughs and even stop work that holds the promise of improved health for our nation and world.

The fight against HIV has seen remarkable progress, thanks in large part to foundational research at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC). While recent headlines rightfully celebrate the FDA approval of new HIV drugs like Yeztugo (lenacapavir, for pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP) and Sunlenca (for treatment), the story behind these breakthrough drugs began years earlier in the labs of WaNPRC. 

WaNPRC’s involvement in HIV research stretches back decades. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Che-Chung Tsai demonstrated that an experimental drug, tenofovir, could completely protect pigtail macaques from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), a virus closely related to HIV and causes AIDS, when given before or after exposure. This study directly led to the development of Truvada, a drug that has reduced HIV transmission globally for over 20 years, by Gilead Pharmaceuticals. Building on this success, researchers turned to WaNPRC’s expertise again to test lenacapavir (now Yeztugo/Sunlenca) in nonhuman primates, ensuring its safety and effectiveness before human trials. 

Why non-human primates? Female pigtail macaques are especially valuable for HIV research because their reproductive biology closely mirrors that of humans, making them ideal for studying antivirals and vaccines that could prevent vaginal and rectal transmission of the virus—key routes for HIV in both men and women. This translational research bridge is critical because findings in the lab must be validated in nonhuman primates before moving to human studies. 

The impact of these advancements is profound. With 1.1 million Americans living with HIV and persistent challenges in PrEP access and adherence, a twice-yearly injection like Yeztugo could significantly boost prevention efforts. Meanwhile, Sunlenca offers new hope for those already living with HIV, used in combination with other therapies. 

WaNPRC’s work isn’t done. Researchers like Dr. Rodney Ho are developing even longer-acting HIV drug combinations, with some already entering human trials. These innovations promise to further extend life expectancy, reduce healthcare burdens, and improve quality of life for patients. 

The stories of Yeztugo and Sunlenca are a testament to the essential role of primate research centers like WaNPRC in turning scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Their ongoing commitment to this research and key role in the development of these next generation HIV treatments and preventatives will continue to save lives and shape the future of global health. 

How NPRC Research Accelerated HIV Advances From 2020–2025

From breakthroughs in prevention to promising treatments, the National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) have played a crucial role in advancing HIV research. Working with nonhuman primates, the closest biomedical model to humans, NPRC researchers have tackled some of HIV’s biggest challenges: viral persistence, brain invasion, co-infections and the limits of current therapies. Together, these discoveries mark some of the most significant progress toward long-term remission and potential cures in decades.

Strengthening Vaccines and Early Prevention

NPRC advances include efforts to block infection before it starts. Researchers at the Emory National Primate Research Center (ENPRC) at Emory University showed that an Env-plus-Gag HIV vaccine regimen in rhesus macaques provided durable protection from SHIV, the simian version of HIV, even when neutralizing antibody levels were low. This finding expanded thinking around the types of immune responses a successful vaccine must generate.

At the same time, Oregon NPRC scientists found that leronlimab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the CCR5 co-receptor, effectively prevented SHIV infection in nonhuman primate models. Already tested in human studies for viral suppression, the antibody also showed promise as a PrEP-style preventive option.

Targeting HIV’s Hidden Reservoirs

Because HIV hides in tissues the immune system can’t easily reach, several NPRC studies focused on uncovering and disrupting these viral reservoirs. ENPRC scientists discovered that the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10 helps HIV-infected cells survive in lymph nodes. Blocking IL-10, alongside antiretroviral therapy (ART), reduced the number of infected reservoir cells, marking an important step toward weakening HIV’s stronghold.

Researchers at Emory NPRC also identified specialized follicle-infiltrating NK cells capable of entering B-cell follicles in lymph nodes, one of HIV’s most protected hiding places. These findings point toward future therapies that could guide immune cells directly into viral reservoir sites.

Additional “shock and kill” studies at Wisconsin NPRC showed that both latency-reversing drugs and checkpoint inhibitor combinations can reactivate dormant virus while nonhuman primates are on ART, laying groundwork for strategies that flush HIV out of hiding.

Immune-Based Therapies Move Toward Functional Cure

By 2024, several NPRC collaborations delivered results that brought the field closer to long-term remission without lifelong treatment. A landmark study testing N-803 (IL-15 superagonist) plus broadly neutralizing antibodies achieved long-lasting viral control in most SHIV-infected macaques even after ART was stopped. The findings have now progressed to early-phase human clinical trials.

Emory NPRC researchers also identified a particularly potent subset of CD8⁺ T cells (TCF1⁺CD39⁺) that excel at controlling SIV and resisting exhaustion. The importance of these cells has been confirmed also in people with HIV and may become powerful tools in future immunotherapies.

Understanding HIV in the Brain

Another major advancement came from California NPRC, where researchers discovered how HIV enters and persists in the brain. Their work showed that CD4 T cells can inadvertently carry virus into neural tissue, helping explain why HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders persist even when ART is effective.

Addressing Co-Infections and Real-World Treatment Needs

HIV rarely exists in isolation. In 2025, Texas Biomed and the Southwest NPRC demonstrated that a promising tuberculosis therapy did not interfere with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) used to treat HIV, supporting its safe use in people co-infected with HIV and TB. Because the drug is already FDA-approved for use in cancer patients, it could accelerate potential approval for TB/HIV treatment compared to developing an entirely new drug.

A Path Toward Remission

Building on these advances, Emory NPRC researchers reported one of the strongest signals yet that a functional cure for HIV may be achievable. In a stringent SIV model, a targeted combination therapy, blocking two negative regulators of the immune system, IL-10 and PD-1, enabled durable control of viral rebound in 9 of 10 nonhuman primates for six months after ART ended, an unprecedented result that strengthens the path toward future human trials. This is a direct proof of concept that the immune system can be harnessed with immune-based interventions to control HIV.

The Bottom Line

Between 2020 and 2025, NPRC research meaningfully advanced the HIV landscape. Through innovative vaccine approaches, better understanding of persistence, targeted immune strategies and real-world treatment insights, the NPRCs have laid essential groundwork for an era in which long-term HIV remission, and ultimately a cure, becomes an attainable goal.

An update to From SIV to HIV: Emory NPRC Research Paves Way for Potential Cure 

In 2025, researchers at the Emory Vaccine Center and the Emory Primate Center led by Dr. Paiardini have made two significant advancements in the pursuit of a cure for HIV. Using nonhuman primates and the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the best model for HIV infection in humans, the team identified a treatment that can reduce the viral reservoir – infected cells that are not eliminated by the immune system – a key obstacle for curing HIV.  

Recent studies strongly suggest that a protein called Bcl-2 favors the survival of cells infected with HIV. Bcl-2 also favors the survival of cancer cells. There is a clinically approved medication for cancer patients, Venclexta, that blocks Bcl-2 and promotes cell death. 

For the first time, the Emory Vaccine Center team showed that giving Venclexta to SIV-infected nonhuman primates eliminates a significant portion of the viral reservoir. Based on these exciting results, a clinical trial was approved to treat people living with HIV starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) with Venclexta. 

In a second study, Dr. Paiardini’s group tested an intervention where two brakes of the immune system, IL-10 and PD-1, were removed by antibodies blocking their functions. This is a follow up study to recently published work from Dr. Sekaly and Dr. Paiardini. This intervention, repeated in two phases over a 3-year-long study, resulted in 100% of the animals controlling viral rebound at very low levels for months despite no longer receiving ART. Even more exciting, the treatment also reduced the size of the viral reservoir by nearly 100-fold. 

Now, the scientists at the Emory Vaccine Center and Emory Primate Center are seeking funds to perform the next step of this life-saving research and take the fight against HIV across the finish line.  

With additional funding, they plan to test a combined intervention where Venclexta will reduce the size of the viral reservoir and the aIL-10 and aPD-1 will work together to eliminate all of the infected cells by increasing the strength of the immune system. 

This research has the potential to improve the lives of more than 40 million people living with HIV worldwide. 

Understanding the Need for New Contraceptive Options 

Many people seeking birth control want non-hormonal options, but choices remain limited. In the United States, about 45% of pregnancies are unintended, and most result from either not using contraception or using it incorrectly. Hormonal contraceptives are not suitable for everyone, so there is a strong demand for new, non-invasive alternatives. 

The Cervix: A Natural Barrier to Fertility 

The cervix acts as a gateway to fertility. Sperm must pass through cervical mucus to reach the uterus and fallopian tubes for fertilization. Cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle, becoming thinner during ovulation to allow sperm passage, and thickening after ovulation to block sperm and pathogens. This natural barrier presents a promising target for new contraceptive methods. 

Building a Lab Model to Study Cervical Mucus 

A research team led by Dr. Leo Han at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) has developed a new lab-based (in vitro) model to study how cervical mucus changes during the menstrual cycle. Using cells from rhesus macaques, which have cervical structures similar to humans, the team grew and treated these cells with hormones to mimic different cycle phases. 

Key Findings: Genes That Regulate Fertile Mucus 

By analyzing genetic activity in these cultured cells, the researchers identified hundreds of genes that play a role in mucus production and consistency. They discovered that these genes respond differently depending on hormone levels, revealing potential drug targets for blocking sperm without hormones. One important protein, MUC5B, helps form the gel-like structure of mucus, while ion channels influence hydration and thickness. 

A Powerful Tool for Future Contraceptive Research 

This new lab model allows scientists to study cervical mucus in a controlled environment, making it easier to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate fertility. The team is now testing non-hormonal compounds that could inhibit fertile mucus production in nonhuman primates, moving a step closer to new non-hormonal birth control options. 

Promoting Reproductive Justice 

Lead author Dr. Katrina Rapp emphasizes that expanding contraceptive choices is especially important for marginalized and disadvantaged populations, who are more likely to experience unplanned pregnancies. By focusing on non-hormonal, non-invasive methods, this research could help promote reproductive justice and improve health equity. 

Research Support and Ethical Oversight 

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, March of Dimes Foundation, and other partners. All animal research at OHSU is reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to ensure ethical standards and scientific value. 

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) have uncovered new protective properties of amniotic fluid, opening the door to potential advances in prenatal care and therapies for pregnancy-related complications. 

Amniotic fluid, the vital substance that cushions and protects a developing fetus, has long been known to support organ development and regulate temperature in the womb. However, its full range of functions has remained a mystery, partly because it is difficult to study throughout pregnancy. Now, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Jamie Lo at ONPRC has taken a closer look at how amniotic fluid changes over time and how these changes may benefit both mother and baby. 

The study, published in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, found that adding amniotic fluid to plasma, the liquid part of blood, improves the blood’s ability to clot. This discovery points to a critical protective function during pregnancy and delivery, helping to reduce the risk of dangerous bleeding for both the birthing parent and the baby. 

By analyzing amniotic fluid samples from both humans and nonhuman primates at different stages of pregnancy, the team identified key fatty acids and proteins that shift each trimester, enhancing the blood’s ability to coagulate. These findings suggest that the composition of amniotic fluid is tailored to meet the growing needs of the developing fetus and to support the health of the parent. 

The research also highlights the potential for amniotic fluid components to be used in future therapies. The ONPRC team is now collaborating with other OHSU scientists to explore how these protective factors might help treat pregnancy disorders, especially those affecting blood and blood-forming organs. They are also working with OHSU’s Fetal Care Program to collect unique samples from pregnancies involving in-utero surgeries, hoping to identify elements that could improve outcomes for babies with conditions like spina bifida. 

Dr. Brian Scottoline, co-senior author of the study, points out that babies born prematurely miss out on critical weeks of exposure to amniotic fluid. Understanding how amniotic fluid supports development could lead to new formulas or therapies for preterm infants, potentially mimicking the fluid’s benefits outside the womb. 

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and other partners, and all animal research was conducted under strict ethical oversight by OHSU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. 

A New Hope for Cardiovascular Patients

University of Wisconsin–Madison NPRC scientists have made a significant leap in heart surgery innovation: they’ve developed bioengineered arteries using stem cells that could one day transform how doctors perform vascular bypass procedures.

Why New Arteries Are Needed

Currently, when patients need small-diameter blood vessels for procedures like coronary bypass surgery, surgeons must use vessels from another part of the patient’s body. This approach is invasive, can be limited by the patient’s health, and is not always possible. Donor vessels are another option, but they often face immune rejection.

The Science Behind Bioengineered Grafts

The research team created a new kind of “off-the-shelf” artery by:

• Using pluripotent stem cells to generate arterial endothelial cells (AECs), the cells that line blood vessels.
• Attaching these cells to a small synthetic graft made of ePTFE (the same material as Teflon), which is specially coated with proteins inspired by mussels to help the cells stick.
• Testing the grafts in Rhesus macaques, a primate model similar to humans.

What Did They Find?

The scientists compared different types of grafts:

• Uncoated synthetic grafts
• Grafts lined with normal (wildtype) AECs
• Grafts lined with AECs modified to avoid immune detection (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) double knockout)

Surprisingly, the (MHC) double knockout grafts failed half the time, possibly due to innate immune cells (natural killer cells) attacking them. The wildtype grafts, however, worked well for six months, and the host’s own cells repopulated the graft, supporting long-term success.

What’s Next?

This study is a promising step toward creating ready-to-use, stem cell-based vascular grafts for heart and vascular surgeries. If successful in future human trials, these grafts could:

• Reduce the need for invasive vessel harvesting
• Expand surgical options for patients with limited vessel availability
• Lower the risk of immune rejection

The Big Picture

As Dr. Samuel Poore, a co-author, explains: “This is an exciting, collaborative project with the potential to be a true bench to bedside advancement.”