The Vervet Research Colony (VRC) is an NIH-supported national biomedical research resource (P40-OD010965) with the mandate to provide the research community with access to pedigreed, genomically-sequenced, pathogen-free Caribbean-origin vervet/African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus).
The VRC supports investigators by providing access to animals, extensive multisystem clinical phenotyping, sample and data repositories and expertise in the use of nonhuman primate models for translational studies.
The colony also serves as a platform for training veterinarians and other professionals in biomedical research, husbandry, clinical care and the management of animal resources. All of the animals in the colony are mother-reared in species-typical social groups.
Researchers interested in information about the colony should contact Dr. Matthew Jorgensen. Those interested in obtaining samples or purchasing animals should complete the vervet request form.
Vervet Request Form
The VRC supports investigators by providing access to animals, extensive multisystem clinical phenotyping, sample and data repositories and expertise in the use of nonhuman primate models for translational studies.
The colony also serves as a platform for training veterinarians and other professionals in biomedical research, husbandry, clinical care and the management of animal resources. All of the animals in the colony are mother-reared in species-typical social groups.
Researchers interested in information about the colony should contact Dr. Matthew Jorgensen. Those interested in obtaining samples or purchasing animals should complete the vervet request form.
Vervet Request Form
Feasibility Funds
Each year the Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Primate Signature Program provides funds, expertise and infrastructure for feasibility studies that advance the Clinical and Translational Science Award network's translational research. Each year the program provides funds for feasibility studies to assist new nonhuman primate (NHP) researchers and investigators without direct access to NHPs in exploring ideas using the vervet colony. Awarded studies are conducted at Wake Forest with significant technical and faculty support with no requirement for awardees to be on-site during the study.
Examples of past studies have included the assessment of:
- Safer infant anesthesia
- Novel PET imaging tracers
- Immune response of vervets to a native HIV envelope protein
- Therapeutic compound in lowering intraocular pressure
- Neonatal microbiome and its influence on health and disease
- Impact of diet and eating pattern on markers of diseases of aging