The Oregon National Primate Research Center

About the ONPRC

Founded in 1962 and located at the OHSU West Campus in Beaverton, OR, the Oregon National Primate Research Center has been at the forefront of biomedical research. The world class research programs at the ONPRC focus on high-priority human health issues such as diabetes, neurological disorders, AIDs, infectious dieases, substance abuse and much more.

The ONPRC has for decades built the foundations of basic science which many biomedical treatments and advancements have been built upon.

The ONPRC is Under Threat. Learn More →

Research at the ONPRC

Ongoing Research in the 5 Research Divisions at the ONPRC

Neuroscience

Gene therapy for inherited blindness.

Understanding causes of age-related macular degeneration.

Multiple Sclerosis modeling. Huntington’s Disease evaluation using PET/MRI.

Pathobiology & Immunology

Vaccine development for HIV, TB, Yellow Fever, and Malaria.

Monoclonal antibody treatment to protect babies born to HIV+ mothers.

Immunotherapy development for cancer.

Reproductive & Developmental Sciences

Restoring fertility in childhood cancer survivors.

Improving pregnancy outcomes in Hepatitis B patients.

Protecting fetal lung development from prenatal nicotine.

Anesthesia safety for infants.

Metabolic Health & Disease

Cell therapy for Type-1 diabetes.

How maternal obesity affects fetal immune development.

How long-term use of anti-HIV drugs affects insulin resistance.

Genetics

How human brains develop, and developmental disorders.

Rare disease modeling including Angelman Syndrome, Batten’s Disease, and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.

Paternal contributions to offspring health.

Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute

The VGTI is a vaccine-development institution built on the OHSU West Campus in 2000-2001. Its scientists work closely with ONPRC scientists, conducting pre-clinical development of drugs and vaccines in tissue culture, small animals, and primates on campus.

HIV Vaccine Progress

A VGTI-developed AIDS vaccine candidate has shown the ability to completely clear virus from the body in monkeys. Phase 1 clinical trials of this HIV/AIDS vaccine began in 2021, licensed to Vir Biotechnology.

COVID-19 Response

VGTI scientists demonstrated COVID-19 immunity in monkeys post-infection, developed prototype vaccines showing protection in monkeys, and identified therapies to reduce lung complications. The Director of the VGTI was appointed to review and approve COVID-19 vaccines for Oregon.

Gene Therapy & Cures

A single experimental shot reduced HIV levels in monkeys 1,000-fold. Stem cell transplants show promise for HIV cure. One-time gene therapy injection could provide lifetime HIV treatment.

Animal Welfare & Oversight

A level of oversight and care not available to a sanctuary.

The ONPRC has maintained rigorous full accreditation with AAALAC International for over 50 years. The most-recent inspection received ‘exemplary’ adherence to guidelines. The ONPRC is registered with the USDA and subject to strict federal regulations under the Animal Welfare Act, with regular unannounced inspections.

All research is reviewed by an Institutional Animal Care and Usage Committee (IACUC) that includes scientists, veterinarians, and community members.

The ONPRC is world renown for it’s animal care practices and standards. 15 veterinary and behavioral sciences faculty and 165 animal care staff ensure the highest standards of care.

Funding & Financial Impacts of Closure to OHSU

84% Funded by NIH

Because the ONPRC is almost entirely externally funded (mostly by NIH), its closure would not return any significant funds to OHSU for other purposes. NIH funding is based on peer review, reflecting sustained scientific excellence and the ongoing necessity of this research.

$220–291M Estimated Closure Cost

An independent analysis by Huron Consulting estimated the cost of transitioning the ONPRC to a primate sanctuary at $220-291M over 8 years, excluding long-term operational, capital, and research-funding losses.

Critical to OHSU's Research Portfolio

The ONPRC and VGTI is the 2nd largest contributor to OHSU’s total research grant revenue, accounting for 68% of all research funding awarded to OHSU’s freestanding centers and institutes, and approximately 20% of OHSU’s total NIH portfolio.

Sanctuary Conversion Cannot Use NIH Funds

Conversion of the ONPRC to a sanctuary cannot be paid for by currently-allocated NIH funds, which require the funds to pay for already-approved research purposes. Reallocation would require an act of Congress, and would require budgetary earmarking which has been condemned for decades by integrity and ethics professionals.

Publications

Peer-reviewed research by Oregon’s biomedical science programs at the ONPRC & VGTI.

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Oregon Voices for Biomedical Science does not reflect the views or opinions, or speak on behalf of the Oregon Health & Science University or the Oregon National Primate Research Center.