Breeding pedigreed, virus-free rhesus macaques to support HIV/AIDS work
Production of Pedigreed SPF Rhesus Macaques
This program breeds and maintains pedigreed rhesus macaques that are free of several viruses to provide animals and biological samples for HIV/AIDS research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264752 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone interested in HIV research, I would know this program keeps and expands a pedigreed colony of Indian-origin rhesus macaques that are screened to be free of multiple viruses, including SIV, SRV, STLV, Herpes B, RhCMV, SFV, and RRV. The team determines family pedigrees and types key immune genes (Mamu MHC Class I and II) in breeding animals, and they collect fecal microbiome samples and peripheral blood immune cells into a shared biorepository for use by HIV investigators. They plan to improve and expand screening and confirmatory tests for those agents and to initiate annual surveillance for Trypanosoma cruzi to protect the colony. These well-characterized animals and stored samples are made available to scientists developing vaccines and therapies for HIV/AIDS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients; it supports animal and sample resources for HIV researchers rather than clinical participation by people.
Not a fit: People seeking to enroll in a clinical trial or receive direct treatment will not benefit from this project because it does not recruit or treat human patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this resource could accelerate and improve testing of HIV treatments and vaccines by providing well-characterized, pathogen-free animal models and biological samples.
How similar studies have performed: Pathogen-free macaque colonies and biorepositories are established tools that have supported many past advances in HIV vaccine and therapy research.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oates, Rhonda S — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Oates, Rhonda S
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.