NIA Resources for Aging Studies in the Non-Human Primate Model

Release Date: December 8, 2010

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides several non-human primate (NHP) resources for investigators in the field of aging research. By making these resources available, the NIA hopes to encourage investigators using other model organisms such as the rat and mouse to test their research findings in the primate model. These resources also support the 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) in that they support avenues of research that do not require the actual acquisition of primates.

The NIA Aged Non-human Primate Tissue Bank provides a repository of tissue from aged NHP for use in research. The tissue is predominantly from rhesus macaques but recent acquisitions include tissue from baboons at a range of ages from juvenile to aged. The tissues are donated by NIA-supported NHP colonies and other NHP colonies such as the National Primate Research Centers. The goal of the NIA NHP Tissue Bank is to archive tissues that might otherwise be discarded, and provide that tissue to investigators undertaking research on normal aging and age-related diseases. Information on the health status of the donor animals is available, but the NIA does not guarantee any aspect of the health status. Tissues are available as fresh-frozen specimens, slides containing sections of formalin-fixed tissue, and OTC-embedded fresh-frozen specimens. Further information is available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ScientificResources/NHPTissueBankHandbook.htm

For information on availability of tissue, contact Tracy Cope, copet@nia.nih.gov.

The NIA Primate Aging Database (PAD) was developed to collect data on normal aging in a wide range of NHP species. Blood chemistry measurements and body weight data have been collected for healthy NHP across the lifespan, from primate colonies across the country. PAD currently has approximately 1,000,000 data points from over 40 species. The data can be used by the research community to identify changes in biological parameters with age, to validate NHP models for aspects of human aging, and to perform comparative analyses. It is also a valuable resource for veterinary staff caring for aged NHP, identifying normal ranges for measurements at different ages. PAD is housed on a secure internet server that requires password-protected access (http://ipad.primate.wisc.edu), and is available to investigators and veterinarians in academic and commercial laboratories with interests in aging research.

The Obesity, Diabetes and Aging Animal Resource at U. South Florida supports a colony of aged, obese and diabetic rhesus monkeys for collaborative studies, as well as a biospecimen bank. Contact Dr. Barbara Hansen (bchansen@aol.com ) for information on the colony.

For further information on NIA resources, visit the Scientific Resources page (http://www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ScientificResources/).

Please direct all inquiries to:

Dr. Nancy Nadon
Chief, Biological Resources Branch
National Institute on Aging
7201 Wisconsin Ave., GW 2C231
Bethesda MD 20892
301-402-7744
nadonn@nia.nih.gov