San Antonio, Texas (affiliated with Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research)

History & Profile

The Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SWFBR) is host to the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC), part of the federal government’s National Primate Research Center system. SWFBR administers the center on its 397-acre campus located near downtown San Antonio and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. (1)

In addition to chimpanzees, SNPRC is “home to the world’s largest baboon population,” (presently about 3,800), two populations of rhesus macaques, a population of common marmosets, as well as smaller numbers of other species of primates, including spider monkeys and pigtailed macaques. (2)

According to SFBR’s website, “[m]ost chimpanzees live in enclosures with an indoor [temperature-controlled] area, and an outdoor area with climbing structures.” (3)

Chimpanzee Use

SNPRC has used chimpanzees extensively for research involving infectious diseases, and for development of vaccines for hepatitis A and B. (4) Despite the fact that chimpanzees have shown a distinctly different response to HIV and fail to contract AIDS, SNPRC claims that “[p]romising results obtained from testing two AIDS vaccines in chimpanzees at SNPRC have led to human trials currently in progress.” (5) Krishna Murthy, a veterinarian and scientist at SWFBR, receives NIH funds for HIV research. A San Antonio news article reported that Murthy was to test a vaccine for AIDS in baboons and chimpanzees “in collaboration with United Biomedical Inc. of New York and the California Department of Health Services.” (6) (Read about the failures of HIV research on chimpanzees.)

Research Profile *

SNPRC’s research emphasis is on nonhuman primate models of human diseases, including “common chronic diseases and infectious diseases, genetic and environmental effects on physiological processes, and susceptibility to specific diseases.” (7) The Virology and Immunology Group focuses on “AIDS; hepatitis B, C, and E; herpes B and other herpesviruses; Chagas disease; emerging viral diseases; fundamental research and vaccine; and drug testing.” (8) This research “uses nonhuman primates as models for human infectious disease, as well as for the evaluation of therapeutic drugs and vaccines against viral agents.” (9)

Principal Research Programs: (10)

• Genetics
• Virology (HIV, hepatitis, herpes B, SIV)
• Immunology
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases
• Neonatal diseases
• Physiology
• Pathobiology
• Behavior

Financials

SNPRC, like the other labs profiled, is funded in part by NIH.

Address

Sources

(1) http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/ncrrprog/cmpdir/PRIMATES.asp#south

(2) http://www.sfbr.org/pages/snprc_primates.php

(3) http://www.sfbr.org/pages/snprc_chimps.php

(4) http://www.sfbr.org/pages/snprc_chimps.php

(5) http://www.sfbr.org/pages/snprc_chimps.php

(7) http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/ncrrprog/cmpdir/PRIMATES.asp#south

(8) http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/ncrrprog/cmpdir/PRIMATES.asp#south

(9) http://www.sfbr.org/pages/virology_index.php

(10) http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/ncrrprog/cmpdir/PRIMATES.asp#south

Last updated: March 2007

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