San Antonio OAIC - Preclinical Research Resource Core (PRRC1)

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – PRECLINICAL RESEARCH RESOURCE CORE 1 The SA OAIC Preclinical Research Resource Core (PRRC1) supports nonhuman primate preclinical research using the common marmoset. The PRRC1 provides resources including study design and planning, availability of young and old marmosets and support for their care, standardized testing, interventional studies including pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics studies, tissue sampling, safety monitoring, education and method development. In this new cycle, the core will support preclinical testing of geroscience based interventions, and their functional effects on healthy marmoset aging. All PRRC1 activities will significantly contribute to the SA OAIC theme: “Translational geroscience to improve the health and functional independence of all older adults”. The Specific Aims of the PRCC1 are: 1. Provide OAIC investigators access to a unique colony of aging marmosets. 2. Provide resources required for studying functional outcomes of aging interventions on marmoset healthspan. 3. Provide and maintain a bank of tissues from marmosets across the lifespan to assist OAIC investigators. 4. Support the developmental and dissemination missions of the OAIC. In the current cycle PRCC1 has built a robust program to test geroscience-based interventions in the marmoset as a preclinical bridge to translation to clinical aging function. The core has supported preclinical tests of drugs that target basic mechanisms of aging, expanded the understanding of functional changes that occur with aging in the marmoset and their relation to clinical changes, and supported development of novel functional aging models in marmosets. In total, the PRCC1 has supported 11 pilot and developmental projects including 2 joint pilot projects co-funded by the Southwest National Primate Research Center, 4 Scholars' projects and 19 external projects. Over the next cycle, we will further enhance PRRC1 services to support refinement and integration of functional marmosets with clinical assessments of aging function and enhance our pipeline of interventional approaches by testing novel gerotherapeutics as part of T0 translational studies. The PRCC1 will continue to enhance and stimulate the OAIC research quality, efficiency, productivity, and provide developmental opportunities for scholars and other investigators.