? This proposal is a request by the Tulane National Primate Research Center to construct a clinic facility that will support the breeding programs, which have a current census of close to 4,000 nonhuman primates. The rapidly expanding specific pathogen free (SPF) breeding program requires that state of the art facilities be available to support the housing, diagnosis and treatment of animals originating from this and other colonies. The majority of animals used in research programs at TNPRC are derived from the breeding colony. Consideration has been given, during the design phase, to assure that the facility will accommodate the projected growth of the breeding program well into the future. The proposed facility will allow the clinical care and housing of breeding colony animals to occur adjacent to outdoor housing facilities, alleviating the current need to transport animals to housing areas on the main campus. The convenience of a clinical facility constructed adjacent to the breeding colony area will allow more immediately available health care for these animals. Other benefits of the facility would include, provisions for state of the art caging equipment and security, provisions for separation of animals based on viral status and origin in support of the SPF program, provisions for separation of research and breeding colony animals, and for other specialized clinical support such as radiography. In addition to the benefits to the TNPRC breeding program, the proposed facility will support the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) breeding colonies, which are housed entirely at the TNPRC. These colonies support the research program of WaNPRC. The proposed construction is a component of a recently developed long-range strategic plan for facilities at the TNPRC. ? ?
