NIH Council of Councils Continues Support for NPRCs

By: Nabila Riaz
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
On September 12, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Council of Councils approved a concept clearance for the reissue of National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs). The council, which meets three times a year with representatives from various institutes and centers, advises the NIH director on trans-NIH initiatives and identifies research opportunities in emerging scientific fields.

NPRCs provide essential resources for scientists using nonhuman primates (NHPs), including animals, cutting-edge facilities, and expert training in scientific and veterinary disciplines. Their goal is to support research across the NIH biomedical community by developing new NHP models of human disease, facilitating pilot projects, promoting educational outreach, and offering training in NHP methodologies. In fiscal year 2023, NPRCs supported 871 active research projects involving approximately 1,770 scientists and 685 trainees. The centers facilitated groundbreaking studies in various fields, with infectious diseases (viral and bacterial), behavioral and systems neuroscience, and reproductive health research leading the way. Given the program’s success and the ongoing need for NHP resources, the NIH Council of Councils reaffirmed its support for NPRCs.