Vervet monkey colony supporting Alzheimer's and aging research
Applied Research Component
This program provides vervet (African green) monkeys, biological samples, imaging, and genetic data to help researchers learn more about aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332906 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, this program maintains and shares a colony of vervet monkeys that are used as a model to mirror human aging and Alzheimer's risk. The resource supplies animals, tissue and blood samples, imaging data, and genetic information to scientists across the U.S. It also develops non-invasive imaging methods and supports studies of amyloid buildup, brain biomarkers, physical function, vaccines, and metabolic disease. By centralizing samples and expertise, it helps speed up a wide range of translational research projects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients directly — its work is aimed at researchers, and findings may eventually benefit people with or at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Not a fit: People seeking direct treatment or the chance to join a clinical trial will not receive care or enrollment opportunities through this animal research resource.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this resource could accelerate discovery of causes, biomarkers, and potential treatments for Alzheimer's and age-related conditions by improving preclinical models and shared data.
How similar studies have performed: Nonhuman primate models, including vervets, have previously provided useful insights into aging, amyloid biology, and metabolic influences on brain health, though translating animal findings to humans remains challenging.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jorgensen, Matthew — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Jorgensen, Matthew
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.