Challenges In Nonhuman Primate Research In The 21st Century

In continuation of the Covance Primate Symposium Series, the 19th Covance Primate Symposium took place in Münster on 23rd & 24th of May 2012. Altogether, 70 participants representing 43 organisations, gathered for this symposium. The 2012 Primate Symposium focussed on ?Challenges in Nonhuman Primate Research in the 21st Century?. The broad participation and the lively discussions during the symposium underlined the timeliness and importance of this topic. Expert speakers covered four major topics, i.e. biosimilars development: regulatory implications, key considerations and next steps, optimizing nonhuman primate use in nonclinical safety assessment, trends in nonhuman primate developmental & reproductive toxicology (DART) and juvenile toxicity evaluation, and relevance and importance of nonhuman primate models in regulatory toxicology. The development of biosimilar has taken up speed considerably and meanwhile needs to be considered a significant factor of potential drug development, yet there are still some uncertainties und guidelines are under development. With the increased focus on biopharmaceuticals and the associated increase for using nonhuman primates being the relevant animal model, it became necessary to optimize the use of this animal model, e.g. refine study designs and animals numbers but still execute meaningful preclinical studies. It appears that significant progress has been achieved in that context. In the area of nonhuman primate DART and juvenile toxicity evaluation, recent guideline changes had a major impact on species selection, and the experimental design plus the timing of these studies within the preclinical programmes. Finally, given the increasing regulations and justficiations of using nonhuman primates as experimental models. It is paramount to understand the essential and indispensable role that nonhuman primates can play in drug safety evaluation and medical drug development.

The list of challenges facing nonhuman primates in the 21st century is a long one. The expansion of palm oil plantations to feed a growing consumer class is eating away at ape and monkey habitats in Southeast Asia and Central Africa. Lemurs are hunted for food in the poorest parts of Madagascar while monkeys are used as medicine in Brazil. Traditional cultural beliefs are maintaining demand for animal body parts in West African markets while viral YouTube videos of “cute” and “cuddly” lorises have increased their market value as pets and endangered their populations. These and other issues are addressed in this book by leading researchers in the field of ethnoprimatology, the study of human/nonhuman primate interactions that combines traditional primatological methodologies with cultural anthropology in an effort to better understand the nuances of our economic, ritualistic, and ecologic relationships.

A 1985 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act requires those who keep nonhuman primates to develop and follow appropriate plans for promoting the animals' psychological well-being. The amendment, however, provides few specifics. The Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates recommends practical approaches to meeting those requirements. It focuses on what is known about the psychological needs of primates and makes suggestions for assessing and promoting their well-being. This volume examines the elements of an effective care program--social companionship, opportunities for species-typical activity, housing and sanitation, and daily care routines--and provides a helpful checklist for designing a plan for promoting psychological well-being. The book provides a wealth of specific and useful information about the psychological attributes and needs of the most widely used and exhibited nonhuman primates. Readable and well-organized, it will be welcomed by animal care and use committees, facilities administrators, enforcement inspectors, animal advocates, researchers, veterinarians, and caretakers.

Scientific experiments using animals have contributed significantly to the improvement of human health. Animal experiments were crucial to the conquest of polio, for example, and they will undoubtedly be one of the keystones in AIDS research. However, some persons believe that the cost to the animals is often high. Authored by a committee of experts from various fields, this book discusses the benefits that have resulted from animal research, the scope of animal research today, the concerns of advocates of animal welfare, and the prospects for finding alternatives to animal use. The authors conclude with specific recommendations for more consistent government action.

Animal experimentation has been one of the most controversial areas of animal use, mainly due to the intentional harms inflicted upon animals for the sake of hoped-for benefits in humans. Despite this rationale for continued animal experimentation, shortcomings of this practice have become increasingly more apparent and well-documented. However, these limitations are not yet widely known or appreciated, and there is a danger that they may simply be ignored. The 51 experts who have contributed to Animal Experimentation: Working Towards a Paradigm Change critically review current animal use in science, present new and innovative non-animal approaches to address urgent scientific questions, and offer a roadmap towards an animal-free world of science.

A how-to guide for ethnoprimatological research in the Anthropocene, offering an inside look at the latest research in the field.

The Nonhuman Primate in Drug Development and Safety Assessment is a valuable reference dedicated to compiling the latest research on nonhuman primate models in nonclinical safety assessment, regulatory toxicity testing and translational science. By covering important topics such as study planning and conduct, inter-species genetic drift, pathophysiology, animal welfare legislation, safety assessment of biologics and small molecules, immunotoxicology and much more, this book provides scientific and technical insights to help you safely and successfully use nonhuman primates in pharmaceutical toxicity testing. A comprehensive yet practical guide, this book is intended for new researchers or practicing toxicologists, toxicologic pathologists and pharmaceutical scientists working with nonhuman primates, as well as graduate students preparing for careers in this area. Covers important topics such as species selection, study design, experimental methodologies, animal welfare and the 3Rs (Replace, Refine and Reduce), social housing, regulatory guidelines, comparative physiology, reproductive biology, genetic polymorphisms and more Includes practical examples on techniques and methods to guide your daily practice Offers a companion website with high-quality color illustrations, reference values for safety assessment and additional practical information such as study design considerations, techniques and procedures and dosing and sampling volumes

Nursery Rearing of Nonhuman Primates in the 21st Century describes how and why nursery rearing of primates can produce adaptable juveniles and adults for research, conservation, and display-educational purposes. The volume details the history of nursery rearing since the mid-19th century, the outcomes of varied nursery rearing methods, the contemporary goals of nursery rearing as well as reference data derived from species commonly reared in nursery or hand-feeding situations. Examples of the changing goals of nursery rearing covered in this volume are the need for biological containment in disease research, the production of specific pathogen-free colonies by removal of neonates from the mother, the production of phenotypes for genetic and molecular biology studies, and the breeding of endangered species for conservation or research purposes.