. The SNPRC is one of seven NIH supported National Primate Research Centers. The center receives additional support from the sponsor organization, Texas Biomedical Research Institute. The center and the institute have a very strong focus on biomedical research involving infectious disease. The site operates primate studies at ASBL 2-3-4 levels. Prior to March 2020, the SNPRC supported studies in NHPs on TB, and TB/HIV co-infection in its new ABSL3 lab (Bldg 12) which can house ~80 rhesus macaques. In response to the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2; Texas Biomed and the SNPRC have become interested in developing NHP models of this infection, and the ensuing diseases, COVID-19. This has led to very early SARS-CoV2 infection studies for model development, in three species of research NHPs (www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.05.136481v1). We are currently supporting a number of NHP studies for Fortune 500/leading biotechnology companies for preventative vaccine and therapeutic candidates for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Our current ABSL3 newly opened in Q4, 2019 is capable of housing up to 80 macaques, across four rooms. This facility is currently in use at virtually full capacity due to COVID-19 and TB work. Due to the urgent nature for research to address SARS-CoV-2, as well as to support research in any future emerging pathogens, the center must therefore expand its ABSL3 primate capabilities. The historic (now closed) ABSL3 located in Bldg 23 on campus can be renovated to a state of the art ABSL3 space. Renovation of this space would bring online four more rooms in ABSL3 containment; with the capacity of an additional 64 macaques. This would represent a significant, 80% increase in the number of macaques that could be enrolled on SARS-CoV2 studies; and a gain of four additional individual study rooms. In the short-term this supplemental funding would allow us to complete the COVID-19 vaccination experiments currently being supported by the SNPRC. Long-term we would be prepared to respond to COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic testing work that is expected to be performed by the NPRCs in support of ACTIV and Warp Speed operations, as well as any other ABSL-3 work.
. The Southwest National Primate Research Center [SNPRC] is a unique and valuable resource for investigators around the nation, conducting research with Risk Group 3 pathogens which require BSL3/ABSL3 facilities. Over the past several months the SNPRC has demonstrated a proven capability to quickly respond to the urgent need to carry out studies related to infection and prevention of the defining pandemic of this era ? COVID-19. This application is a request for supplemental funds to significantly expand the SNPRC's ABSL3 capability.
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