Upgrade to Housing Systems for Nonhuman Primates in the Center for Comparative Research

Project Summary In 2014, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) expanded its research on drug addiction with the addition of several research programs using nonhuman primates. Since then, the number of nonhuman primate researchers at UMMC has grown, and they have obtained numerous research grants from the National Institutes

of Health (NIH). As a result, the total number of nonhuman primates at UMMC has tripled since 2013. Our institutional animal resources have always maintained sufficient numbers of “standard” stainless steel caging to accommodate these animals. However, some of the caging is now quite dated. Moreover, our caging was

purchased from numerous commercial vendors presenting a considerable challenge to establishing social housing interactions through cage linking. This grant is specifically directed at upgrading caging that will facilitate socialization and enrichment of the environment for our approximately 100, NIH-supported, nonhuman primate

research animals. The institution has made a significant investment to be a leader in nonhuman primate neuroscience and addiction research. UMMC transformed the existing Guyton Laboratory Research Building into a nonhuman primate-intensive large animal research facility housed within the Center for Comparative

Research (CCR). This “consolidation” approach provided additional benefits to these NIH-funded research programs in the form of opportunities for greater cross-collaboration and centralized veterinary and husbandry programs tailored to nonhuman primate needs. Ultimately, the animals have benefited by having a single,

comprehensive environment that allows for socialization. This proposal seeks to build upon the investment already made by UMMC and modernize our remaining older nonhuman primate cages by replacing them with an integrated Carter2 Systems, Inc., social-caging system. This will address the psychological needs of these

animal as well as create a standardized caging system for the researchers who have purchased customized cassettes that are compatible with the Carter2-style cages. In addition, we propose to purchase mobile vertical tunnels with scales. These tunnels are part of the integrated Carter2-caging system and can be used across

laboratories for transportation and body weight measurements. These mobile tunnels will improve animal welfare by allowing us to collect nonhuman primate weights without using sedative drugs or restraint chairs, and by allowing us to collect more frequent weight measurements and thus, more closely track trends in weight.

Specifically, the institution seeks financial support to purchase 28, Carter2 Systems, Inc., one-over-one socialization racks and 2, Carter2 Systems, Inc., large mobile vertical tunnels with wire panels and scales. The proposed caging modernization and acquisition of vertical tunnels will allow the numerous NIH-funded projects

using nonhuman primates at UMMC to have a species-appropriate environment, fostering animal welfare and facilitating the production of quality scientific findings.