California National Primate Research Center

PROJECT ABSTRACTThis application from the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC) located on the University of California(UC) Davis campus, seeks to obtain federal funding in the amount of $3,100,000 through the AdministrativeSupplements for Alteration and Renovation (A&R) and expansion of breeding to provide rhesus macaques for COVID-19 research. The Alteration and Renovation funds will be used to renovate a shade structure for a single ½ acre outdoorcorral, perform repairs to the interior corral structure, and renovate and provide heating to five outdoor pens. Thebreeding colony expansion for the CNPRC breeding colony will begin in Year 1 and continue in Year 2. Two previouslyrenovated outdoor breeding corrals will be populated with approximately seventy rhesus macaques in each corral inYear 1. The five outdoor pens that are renovated and have heating installed will be used for animal production in Year2. These outdoor pens are smaller and house approximately 10-15 animals. The CNPRC will acquire forty young rhesusmacaques from the Caribbean Primate Research Center (CPRC) in Year 1. These animals will complete the CNPRC90 day quarantine and will then be housed in the smaller outdoor pens for repeated testing to confirm their viral statusbefore combining them with juvenile rhesus from the CNPRC colony. We will also use ten indoor gang cages for housingof young rhesus, formation of stable social groups, repeat viral screening, and eventual transfer to breeding corrals inthe future. The corral that is renovated in Year 1 will then be used to house an additional 70 animals to form the thirdbreeding corral for colony expansion. The forty young rhesus acquired from the CPRC will be integrated into the thirdbreeding corral along with smaller breeding groups in the outdoor pens. Funds are requested in Year 2 to pay the perdiem for the expanded breeding group as well as hire additional staff to provide for the animal care, colony management,and veterinary care needs. This funding for additional staff is needed because by Year 2 we will designate approximately350 animals including the forty animals from the CPRC for breeding and overall colony expansion. Their primaryassignment will be to the expanded breeding colony. When the 200 females begin breeding, the estimated production(77% live birth rate/female) will produce an additional 154 rhesus on an annual basis for COVID and pandemic focusedresearch.The specific aims of the proposed project are to: • Renovate one ½ acre corral and five outdoor pens to be used for expansion of the CNPRC breeding colony • Establish three additional breeding corrals, five outdoor pens, and ten indoor gang cages for expanded breeding for COVID-19 and future pandemic research • Expand CNPRC animal care, colony management, behavior and veterinary staff to provide care for the expanded colony • Commit 350 adult rhesus to an expanded breeding colony with the goal of increasing current CNPRC production by 154 infants/year