Since its inception in 1961, the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) has continued to fulfill its National Institutes of Health (NIH) charter to serve as a resource for outstanding biomedical research using nonhuman primate models. The WaNPRC remains a vibrant, highly productive research institution within the University of Washington, providing a wide variety of primate-related resources to a broad research community.
The WaNPRC continues to support an impressive portfolio of research projects involving both Core and Affiliate staff researchers. The WaNPRC has a group of 18 Core scientists and more than 35 Affiliate Staff scientists, with total leveraged grant support exceeding $200 million, demonstrating a very effective fulfillment of the NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) mission for each of the seven National Primate Research Centers to be a central focus for a diverse research program.
The WaNPRC is tightly-integrated into the University of Washington’s biomedical research program and is headquartered within the Warren G. Magnuson Health Sciences Center on the Seattle campus of the University of Washington. This close proximity provides efficient access to WaNPRC resources for implementation of primate research protocols.
The mission of the WaNPRC acknowledges and incorporates ORIP’s vision to empower and expand existing programs and develop new initiatives to support NIH research at the forefront of scientific progress. The WaNPRC mission statement reads, “Empowering the delivery of leading edge scientific discoveries to improve human health while promoting the highest standards of care, health, well-being and conservation for primates around the world.”
To meet this mission, the Center supports biomedical research activities, professional research staff, specifically bred and maintained nonhuman primate colonies, and dedicated infrastructure, facilities and equipment required for nonhuman primate research.
The administration of this complex organization resides within the WaNPRC Director’s office, which oversees the strategic planning and daily operations through the following divisions:
- Animal Resources Division
- Business Operations & Services
- Research Administration
- Scientific Research Cores and Core Services
- Technology Innovation
The Director’s Office
- Administration of financial operations
- Insure compliance with the University of Washington, State of Washington, National Institutes of Health/ORIP – DPCPSI, and regulatory agencies
- Preparation of grant and contract applications
- Administration of Center and national review committees
The Director’s Office includes the following programs:
- Animal Resources Division
- Business Operations and Services
- Communications and Outreach
- Research Administration
- Scientific Divisions
- Technology Innovation
Reach the Director’s Office at wanprcdo@uw.edu.
Core Scientists
| Name | WaNPRC Unit | Position | UW Department(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michele A. Basso | Neuroscience | Center Director, Core Scientist | Departments of Biological Structure and Physiology & Biophysics |
| Deborah Fuller | Infectious Disease & Translational Medicine, Virology and Immunology Core | Associate Director for Research, Core Scientist | Department of Microbiology |
| Cynthia Derdeyn | Infectious Disease & Translational Medicine | Core Scientist | Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology |
| Kristina Adams Waldorf | Infectious Disease & Translational Medicine; Focus area: Reproductive and Fetal Health | Core Scientist | Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| Beth Buffalo | Neuroscience | Core Scientist | Department of Physiology & Biophysics |
| Dennis M. Dacey | Neuroscience | Core Scientist | Department of Biological Structure |
| Michael Gale, Jr. | Infectious Disease & Translational Medicine; HTMPC, CDAC, Seattle Genomics | Chief - Core Scientist | Department of Immunology Department of Microbiology & Global Health CIIID CERID |
| Gregory D. Horwitz | Neuroscience | Chief - Core Scientist | Department of Physiology and Biophysics |
| Hans-Peter Kiem | Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine | Chief - Core Scientist | Department of Medicine: Oncology and Pathology |
| Charles E. "Chuck" Murry | Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine | Core Scientist | Department of Medicine: Cardiology Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Bioengineering |
| André Lieber | Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine | Core Scientist | Department of Medicine: Medical Genetics Pathology |
| Sean Murphy | Infectious Disease & Translational Medicine | Core Scientist | Departments of Lab Medicine Department of Microbiology CERID |
| Megan O’Connor | Infectious Disease & Translational Medicine | Core Scientist | Department of Microbiology |
| Randall C. Kyes | Global Conservation, Education & Outreach | Chief - Core Scientist | Departments of Psychology, Global Health, and Anthropology |
| Amy Orsborn | Neuroscience | Core Scientist | Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Bioengineering |
| Anitha Pasupathy | Neuroscience | Core Scientist | Department of Biological Structure |
| Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad | Neuroscience | Core Scientist | Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Bioengineering |
| Steve Perlmutter | Neuroscience; Instrumentation Services | Core Scientist | Department of Physiology and Biophysics |