Wake Forest primate survivors of radiation exposure
The Wake Forest Nonhuman Primate Radiation Survivor Cohort
This project follows primates that survived radiation to learn how exposure leads to long-term problems like diabetes, heart, and brain changes so people exposed to radiation can be better helped.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| 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-11383359 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers follow a unique group of rhesus monkeys that received single-dose whole-body radiation and survived for many years to document delayed health effects. The animals undergo yearly clinical exams, imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI), laboratory testing, and eventual necropsy to map organ damage and recovery. The cohort includes juveniles and adults, both sexes, and subgroups that did or did not receive treatments such as antibiotics or hematopoietic growth factors. Collected data focus on metabolic disease (including type II diabetes), cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction, neurologic changes, and other late effects of exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have experienced significant therapeutic, occupational, or accidental radiation exposure and who are concerned about delayed effects such as new-onset diabetes or heart and brain problems would be most aligned with the goals of this research.
Not a fit: People without a history of significant radiation exposure or whose diabetes is clearly due to non-radiation causes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this animal-based cohort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how radiation causes delayed diseases and guide better monitoring, prevention, and treatments for people exposed to high-dose radiation.
How similar studies have performed: Long-term animal and retrospective human studies have suggested links between radiation and metabolic or cardiac late effects, but this nonhuman primate survivor cohort is unusually long-term and comprehensive and provides rare data for translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cline, J. Mark — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Cline, J. Mark
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.