Specific Pathogen Free 18 Baboon Research Resource (SPF18BRR): Applied Research

PROJECT SUMMARY: APPLIED RESEARCH COMPONENT The SPF18BRR is the only national research resource of adventitious virus free olive baboons (Papio anubis) that are available to NIH grantees; intramural research programs of federal agencies, including the FDA, NSF and NIH; and other sponsors of biomedical research (private foundations, pharmaceutical companies, and contract research organizations). Absolutely unique in the entire world, the baboons in the SPF18BRR have an extensive bioexclusion list of 18 pathogens normally found in other wild and captive nonhuman primate colonies. The applied research proposed in this grant application has been developed to strengthen and improve the resource. The first two specific aims are intended to further develop the resource and to demonstrate the value of the SPF18 baboons as an animal model of human Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). Specific aim one will develop and place hardware for automated cognitive testing in socially living baboons. Specific aim two expands on the AD/ADRD model development by calculating a DNA methylation clock for baboons in the SPF18BRR and by measuring a panel of 30 biomarkers on all animals 3 years of age and older at two different timepoints. Additionally, we will collect cerebrospinal fluid from animals 15 years of age and older and will use it to measure a panel of 18 human neuroscience biomarkers. In specific aim three we will perform whole genome sequencing (WGS) on nine olive baboons that were bred at the Southwest National Primate Research Center that we would like to add to our conventional baboon breeding colony to diversify the population genetics before we close the SPF18 colony to new animal introductions. We will also perform targeted WGS on additional animals to further expand the understanding of the genetics of the SPF18BRR.