Nonhuman primates represent a small fraction of animals used in biomedical research, but they remain important research models due to their similarities to humans with respect to genetic makeup, anatomy, physiology, and behavior. Limitations in the availability of nonhuman primates have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent restrictions on their exportation and transportation, impacting National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research necessary for both public health and national security. Additionally, there is continued interest in understanding whether and how nonanimal models can be used to answer scientific questions for which nonhuman primates are currently used. At the direction of the U.S. Congress, NIH asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene an expert committee to conduct a landscape analysis of current and future use of nonhuman primates in NIH-supported biomedical research, as well as opportunities for new approach methodologies to complement or reduce reliance on nonhuman primate models. This report provides the committee findings and conclusions.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• COMMITTEE ON THE STATE OF THE SCIENCE AND FUTURE NEEDS FOR NONHUMAN PRIMATE MODEL SYSTEMS
• Reviewers
• Preface
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Summary
  • STUDY ORIGIN, STATEMENT OF TASK, AND SCOPE
  • CURRENT LANDSCAPE OF USE OF NONHUMAN PRIMATES FOR NIH-SUPPORTED BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
  • POTENTIAL OF NEW APPROACH METHODOLOGIES TO COMPLEMENT OR REDUCE RELIANCE ON NHP MODELS
  • FUTURE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NHP MODELS IN NIH-SUPPORTED BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
• 1. Introduction
  • STUDY ORIGIN AND SCOPE
  • KEY TERMINOLOGY
  • STUDY CONTEXT
  • STUDY APPROACH
  • ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
  • REFERENCES
• 2. Contribution of Nonhuman Primate Models to Advances in Human Health
  • NHP USE ACROSS THE RESEARCH CONTINUUM
  • EXAMPLES OF NHP USE ACROSS THE RESEARCH LANDSCAPE
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 3. Current Landscape of Use and Availability of Nonhuman Primates for NIH-Supported Biomedical Research
  • OVERVIEW OF NIH-SUPPORTED NHP RESEARCH
  • NHP SUPPLY AND DEMAND
  • STATE OF CURRENT NHP RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE: GAPS AND NEEDS
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 4. The Landscape of New Approach Methodologies
  • A PATHWAY FOR ADOPTION OF NEW APPROACH METHODOLOGIES
  • NEW APPROACH METHODOLOGIES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO COMPLEMENT OR REDUCE RELIANCE ON NHP MODELS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
  • REGULATORY GUIDANCE ON TECHNOLOGIES AND APPROACHES TO COMPLEMENT OR REDUCE RELIANCE ON NHP MODELS
  • NEED FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN NHP RESEARCHERS AND THOSE DEVELOPING AND USING NEW APPROACH METHODOLOGIES
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • REFERENCES
• 5. Future Needs and Opportunities for Nonhuman Primate Models in Biomedical Research
  • FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FUTURE NEED FOR NHPs IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
  • RESEARCH DOMAINS IN WHICH THE NEED FOR NHPs IS LIKELY TO GROW
  • FUTURE NEEDS FOR SPECIFIC NHP SPECIES
  • OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING NIH-SUPPORTED RESEARCH WITH NHPs
  • CONCLUSIONS
  • REFERENCES
• Appendix A. Study Approach and Methods
• Appendix B. Data on Nonhuman Primate Use in NIH-Supported Biomedical Research
• Appendix C. Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff
• Appendix D. Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest
• Appendix E. Nonhuman Primate Investigator Survey and Responses

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Nonhuman primate models in biomedical research: State of the science and future needs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26857.

Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26857

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