1. Funded by the European Union
Contract No. FP6-RII

2. European Primate-Network (EURPRIM-Net): Challenges and Possibilities
Robert Teepe
German Primate Center

3. Refinement, Reduction and Replacement!
Background
Central areas of biological and biomedical research depend on the availability of living non-human primates and biological material with primate origin.
Primate research has to be done under high ethical standards, following the 3R-concept of
Refinement, Reduction and Replacement!
Meeting this requirement necessitates a commitment to substantial investments into appropriate facilities, specialized equipment and extensive training of personnel.

4. EUPRIM-Net wide range of biological and biomedical R&D activities
The need for such an infrastructure is best met through specialized, highly competent central facilities that combine research and breeding of primates.
links the European Primates Centers in order to combine and advance their
wide range of biological and biomedical R&D activities
extensive knowledge and infrastructure resources
solid experience in primate housing and breeding
Virtual European Primate Center, providing the best services and supporting the best science that meets the highest ethical standards for primate-based animal research

5. EUPRIM-Net
Specialized infrastructures and procedures for biological and biomedical research
Participants: 9 European Primate Centers
Coordinators: Prof. Dr. S. Treue (DPZ), Dr. R. Bontrop (BPRC)
Activities: 4 Network Activities Transnational Access Activities Joint Research Activities
Funded by: European Union (11.8 Mio. Euro total budget)
Funding period: Apr – Dec Jan – Dec (follow-up project)

6. Objectives
Optimization of non-human primate keeping and breeding considering animal welfare and ethical guidelines
Development and standardization of procedures and methods for the use of non- human primates in biomedical research
Availability of non-human primates of high quality as well as extensive banks of primate material and primate models for biomedical research
Training courses for researchers and caretakers working with primates

7. External Advisory Board Scientific & Governmental
Management
European
Commission
External Advisory Board
Scientific & Governmental
Board
Animal Welfare Committee
Consortium Management
Access Activities
User Selection Panel
Network Activities
Joint Research Activities

8. Participants German Primate Center (DPZ)
Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC)
Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI)
Italian National Research Council (CNR): Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine (INMM)
Université de Strasbourg (UdS): Centre de Primatologie (CdP)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS): Station de Primatologie (SdP)
Health Protection Agency (HPA): National Institute for Biological Standards & Control (NIBSC) & Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR)
Medical Research Council (MRC): Centre for Macaques (CFM)
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU): Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology (CeRA)

9. Participants

10. Topics Selected research and service topics:
Primates as models for complex human infectious and neurological diseases (e.g. AIDS, hepatitis, malaria, tuberculosis and Alzheimer’s disease)
Genetics, reproduction biology, ethology and evolution
Alternatives (reduction, refinement and replacement of animal research)
Breeding and provision of primates as well as primate material and models
Diagnostics and consultation
Training and education

11. Activities Network Activities Transnational Access Activities
Provide, maintain and develop instruments critical for primate research at the highest level and with the highest technical and ethical standards
Transnational Access Activities
Provide European researchers with access to primate-based animal models and biological material with the aim to facilitate internationally competitive research
Joint Research Activities
Ensure continuous development of techniques and knowledge that forms the basis for the high quality services provided by EUPRIM-Net

12. Network Activities
Harmonisation of husbandry and experimental procedures of primates in breeding and experiments
Animal behavioural management and positive reinforcement training
Education for personnel working with non-human primates
4. NEW: Outreach programme – International affairs and industry cooperation

13. Transnational Access Activities
BioBank
Primates as a biological and genetic resource
Tissue, blood and serum bank
Comprehensive collection of non-infectious and
infectious material of different species
Gene bank
Collection consisting of DNA, RNA, cDNA of 170 species
PRIMOCID
Non-human Primate Models of Chronic Immune Disorders
Access to well-established disease models (e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, allograft rejection)

14. Joint Research Activities
Development of new and improved tools to measure infection and disease in non-human primates
Monkey “home office” – telemetry for cage-based wireless recordings in unrestrained monkeys
NEW: Development of in vitro technologies to replace, reduce and refine non-human primate studies
NEW: Research activities in animal behavioural management and positive reinforcement training

15. Contribution to the 3R-concept: Refinement, Reduction and Replacement
Results and Benefits
High quality of animal housing, breeding and work with primates in experiments
Well-educated animal keepers, veterinarians and researchers
Standardized and comparable procedures/methods
Availability of non-human primates of high quality
Contribution to the 3R-concept:
Refinement, Reduction and Replacement

16. International Cooperation
Research with primates and issues of primate breeding and keeping are of paramount international importance
EUPRIM-Net aims to:
offer a platform for international cooperation linking the centers’ expertise towards a global sharing of available resources
establish an extensive exchange programme between important key players in primate research from the US, Asia, Africa, Australia and further partners interested in the network
involve commercial companies in the ongoing discussion and development of the use of non-human primates for research and other purposes

17. International Cooperation
Associated non-European partners:
National Primate Research Centers (NPRC), USA
Primate Research Institute (PRI), Kyoto University, Japan
Central Institute for Experimental Animals (CIEA), Nogawa, Japan
Kunming Institute of Zoology – Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Institute of Primate Research (IPR) – National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
NHP Breeding & Research Centre, Monash University, Australia
Industrial partners:
Kunming Biomed International, China
Covance Laboratories GmbH, Germany
Encepharm, Germany

18. US – EUPRIM-Net Cooperation
Harmonisation of husbandry (Network Activity, WP2)
veterinary exchange and training programme between the US National Primate Research Centers and EUPRIM-Net institutes
Animal Behavioural Management and Positive Reinforcement Training (Network Activity, WP3)
web-meetings and/or video conferences with the US National Primate Research Centers‘ Behavioral Management Consortium, exchange of research technicians
Outreach programme (Network Activity, WP5)
involvement in the compilation of the International Primate Plan (IPP), workshops on PRT, animal welfare, education and alternative methods, travel stipends

19. US – EUPRIM-Net Cooperation
International Plan for the Production of Non-human Primates and their Use in Research and Testing (International Primate Plan, IPP)
currently developed under the leadership of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) of the US National Academies
considers the future development, requirements and demands of all countries using primates for research as well as for pharmaceutical and toxicological testing
serves to guide the development of a web-based resource for the international community to coordinate efforts in breeding, use, characterisation and conservation of non-human primates

20. EUPRIM-Net Ethical responsibility
Heterogeneity of participating institutes
Expansion of EUPRIM-Net activities to Non-European institutes and industrial partners to spread knowledge and experience
Involvement in the development of the International Primate Plan
Cooperation between NPRCs and EUPRIM-Net in various fields with a focus on animal behavioural management, education and animal welfare

21. Contact
Prof. Dr. Stefan Treue DPZ Director Scientific Coordinator EUPRIM-Net )
Dr. Robert Teepe Head Research Coordination )
Dr. Björg Pauling Project Management EUPRIM-Net )
Dr. Katrin Prinz Principal Investigator Outreach Programme, EUPRIM-Net )