Vegetarian, Vegan and Animal Rights

A $37 million federal grant will help fund a San Antonio research facility housing nearly 2,500 non-human primates through 2026.

The Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomedical Research Institute is the caretaker for more than 900 baboon species, 1,000 macaques, 500 marmosets and a retiree community of chimpanzees no longer used for medical research.

There are only seven federally funded National Primate Research Centers. One is on Texas Biomed’s 200-plus acre campus near Texas 151 and Southwest Loop 410.


Deepak Kaushal, the center’s director, said the animals were essential in helping show that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine would be safe and effective for humans.

“The support from (the National Institutes of Health) for our center will ensure that we can continue this critical work in finding new treatments and vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases, while maintaining the absolute highest standards of animal care,” Kaushal said.


https://www.expressnews.com/coronavirus/article/Texas-Biomed-get-37-million-for-San-Antonio-monkey-16255273.php