Breeding and caring for rhesus macaques used in HIV/AIDS research
Animal Husbandry Core
This project breeds and cares for healthy, well‑characterized rhesus macaques so researchers can develop better HIV/AIDS vaccines and treatments for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325734 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project expands and manages a colony of Indian‑origin, specific‑pathogen‑free rhesus macaques prioritized for HIV/AIDS research. Staff use genetic typing, behavioral and demographic monitoring, and reproductive management to maximize genetic diversity and production efficiency. The team plans to grow the colony toward about 1,000 animals and make roughly 150 macaques available annually for approved AIDS-related studies. These animals and their associated data support testing of vaccines, therapies, and other biomedical work aimed at helping people with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients; it is an animal resource that supports researchers working on HIV/AIDS.
Not a fit: Patients with health issues unrelated to HIV/AIDS are unlikely to receive any direct benefit from this breeding and husbandry program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, a steady supply of well‑characterized macaques could speed development and testing of HIV vaccines and treatments that benefit people living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Rhesus macaque colonies have long been essential and successful in advancing HIV/AIDS vaccines and therapies, so this is an established approach rather than an untested idea.
Where this research is happening
San Antonio, United States
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute — San Antonio, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaushal, Deepak — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Kaushal, Deepak
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.