Funded by the European Union Contract No. FP6-RII3-026155

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

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.  

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

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 2 Transnational Access Activities 4 Joint Research Activities Funded by: European Union (11.8 Mio. Euro total budget) Funding period: Apr. 2006 – Dec. 2010 Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2014 (follow-up project)

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

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

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)

Participants

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Prof. Dr. Stefan Treue DPZ Director Scientific Coordinator EUPRIM-Net (treue@gwdg.de; +49-551-3851-117) Dr. Robert Teepe Head Research Coordination (rteepe@gwdg.de; +49-551-3851-122) Dr. Björg Pauling Project Management EUPRIM-Net (bpauling@dpz.eu; +49-551-3851-454) Dr. Katrin Prinz Principal Investigator Outreach Programme, EUPRIM-Net (kprinz@dpz.eu; +49-551-3851-437)

www.euprim-net.eu