Before we learn to walk, we crawl. The same principle holds true when looking for ways to prevent or treat disease: We look first to primates to understand human health. Because of nonhuman primate research we can vaccinate for polio, reduce high blood pressure with medication reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, and extend the life of patients with renal failures through kidney dialysis or kidney transplants. The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center at UW-Madison has been a key player in the national effort to develop nonhuman primate models for basic and applied studies of human health and disease. This is the first in a series of center profiles produced by the Graduate School.
The National Primate Research Centers (NPRC) network was established by Congress in the early 1960’s to centralize primate resources and services at just eight sites across the country. The network was established because of the special care required by primates, and expert care is a rather limited resource nationally. The eight sites were selected for their connection to a major research institution. Funded by grants through the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NPRCs provide important scientific resources for advancing biomedical knowledge and improving human health.
The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), based in the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was established in the first year of the program in 1961. Today, the center has approximately 120,000 square feet of laboratory, animal, and office space on and near the UW-Madison campus. More than 250 core and affiliate doctoral-level staff conduct research supported by the WNPRC.
On May 1, 2008 the WNPRC began a new cycle of funding for its base operating grant from the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health. The renewal follows a successful application and on-site review in January. The new award is approved for approximately $46.3 million over the next five years, during which time the center will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.
The center's current research program is broadly based in three main areas: Aging and Metabolism, Immunology and Virology, and Regenerative Medicine & Reproduction. Examples of projects in these areas include a longitudinal study of the effects of moderate calorie restriction on aging and longevity, efforts to develop a vaccine for AIDS, and the biology of stem cells and their potential therapeutic applications. Research projects are funding by competitively awarded grants to individual investigators or teams of investigators, while the infrastructure of resources and services is funded by the base grant.
Director Joe Kemnitz is excited about the traditional opportunities that the base grant renewal will provide, but he is also anticipating a new era for the center's program. There is increased emphasis on collaboration and streamlining the process of applying laboratory-based biomedical discoveries to clinical practice and community health. Research using nonhuman primates is critical to the translation of animal research to human health. To expedite this process, the Primate Center is an integral partner in the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR), which won NIH funding from a Clinical and Translational Science Award from NIH last September. In this role, the Primate Center is facilitating access to its core services and promoting collaboration locally and including other primate centers and CTSA awardees nationally.
In the tradition of the Wisconsin Idea, the Primate Center continues to bring the university to the borders of the state through outreach programs. A grant from the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment made possible the “Sharing in the Discovery” Stem Cell lab, a real lab setup with wet lab equipment which gives interested parties the chance to view live human embryonic stem cells. The lab is for school groups (down to the 4th grade), community groups, and just about anyone who wants the stem cell lab experience. Visitors receive a colorful stem cell PowerPoint presentation. There is time built into the presentation for questions and answers. Finally, the experience includes a walk down to the Primate Center to see where it all began with Jamie Thomson's primate models. This new lab is a collaborative effort among the Primate Center, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Biotechnology Center and the Student Society for Stem Cell Research.
Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC)
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Primate Resources
Linking Research to Healthy Living, produced by the National Primate Research Centers
Helpful information about the many ways humans have benefited from nonhuman primate research
