Neurodevelopment
The CNPRC’s large colony of domestically bred rhesus macaques includes a breeding colony of socially housed monkeys and a timed-mating program. This unique resources provides an invaluable tool to study complex human neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. It has also enhanced the study of certain infectious diseases, like Zika, that affect developmental neuropathology.
Assessments of social and cognitive development designed to maximize translational potential are used to evaluate the validity of our nonhuman primate models. Examples of developmental testing batteries include:
- Developmental milestones and biobehavioral assessments
- Qualification of social development in rearing groups
- Quantification of mother-infant interactions
- Quantification of peer social interactions
- Processing of social stimuli using eye tracking technology
This rigorous behavioral assessment is just one of the many ways the CNPRC seeks to maximize the translational power of our nonhuman primate models for neurodevelopment. These assessments are enhanced by an established battery of biomarkers used to directly compare primate models with human diseases. High-powered qualitative microscopic approaches are also used to characterize developmental neuropathology.
Neurobiology
The CNPRC’s large geriatric population provides an opportunity to study cognitive function in an older population. Just as cognitive decline is frequently a feature of human aging, aged rhesus macaques demonstrate robust changes in cognition and memory that can be evaluated pre and post drug treatment. Our greatest example of this is a model for Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology.
Aged animals are tested by research staff with decades of experience in behavioral testing, with batteries including:
- Delayed non-matching to sample
- Delayed response
- Affective behavior
In addition to rigorous behavioral assessment, the CNPRC has established a battery of biomarkers that can be used to assess physiological endpoints in therapeutic trials. These biomarkers combined with behavioral measures can identify treatment effects associated with novel compounds.