Notice Number: NOT-OD-20-016
Key Dates
Release Date: November 22, 2019
Response Date: January 06, 2020
None
Issued by
Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
National Eye Institute (NEI)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP)
Purpose
This Request for Information (RFI) seeks input on current challenges and key bottlenecks in the use of macaques as animal models in biomedical research. The principal objectives include identification of the needs for particular macaques, species-specific biologic reagents, genetic and behavioral analytic tools and technologies, and other crucial resources, that would advance the use of macaques in research, and facilitate the translation of research using this model into the clinic.
Background
Nonhuman primates (NHP) are the closest evolutionary relatives of humans. The anatomical, physiological, developmental, immunological, cognitive, genetic, reproductive, and social similarity between humans and NHPs make NHPs an indispensable resource for studying human health and disease. The macaque is one of the most commonly used NHP models worldwide. Experimental studies in macaques have provided insights into numerous areas of human health and disease.
A recent report by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs indicates that the high demand for the use of macaques in biomedical research will continue into the foreseeable future (link). The NIH is seeking stakeholder feedback to guide the development of priorities to accelerate research using macaques as models of human diseases, and to facilitate the translation of these findings into human conditions and treatment. This notice seeks to solicit public comment on the challenges, gap areas and bottlenecks experienced by the macaque research community. Feedback obtained through this Notice and other outreach efforts will help to inform the development of research and infrastructure priorities for biomedical research involving macaques as a model organism.
Information Requested
Stakeholder feedback is requested on any or all of the following topics:
- Access to appropriate animals for your study (e.g. age, pathogen free status, etc.).
- Key biological reagents and tools that need to be developed to facilitate the use of the various macaque species as animal models and accelerate translation of results.
- Additional characterization of selected macaque models. For, example characterization of the immune system at different ages, characterization of the microbiome at different ages, reference genomes for specific species or annotation of the reference genome.
- Development of Core facilities. If so, what types of services should be provided?
- Improvement of data, reagent and sample sharing within the macaque research community.
- Optimization and standardization of procedures within the macaque research community.
- Key areas that NIH can become involved with to facilitate research using macaques.
Submitting a Response
All comments must be submitted electronically to http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=94 by 01/06/2020.
This request is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government. The NIH does not intend to make any awards based on responses to this RFI or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information.
The NIH will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion and will not provide comments to any responder's submission. However, responses to the RFI may be reflected in future funding opportunity announcements. The information provided will be analyzed and may be aggregated in presentations and reports. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Brenda Fredericksen, Ph.D.
Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
Telephone: 240-669-5566
Email: RhesusMacaqueRFI@nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
