Funded Projects
National Primate Center for Pandemic Preparedness
The 2023 U.S. National Academies of Sciences report on non-human primate (NHP) needs states that NHPs are “necessary to support key strategic priorities, including maintaining global leadership in biomedical science and safeguarding against unexpected public health threats.” NHPs are critical models for infectious diseases and are essential for preclinical studies in vaccine and drug development.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed severe limitations in animal resources, as well as vulnerabilities associated with international NHP supply chains. Canada’s sovereignty in pandemic preparedness requires domestic NHP capacity, yet the country currently has no NHP breeding facilities and faces a critical shortage of level 3 containment laboratories (CL3) capable of handling NHPs for the study of vaccines and therapeutics targeting (re-)emerging pathogens. This represents a major gap in Canada’s biomanufacturing ecosystem (BE).
Building on more than 10 years of accumulated expertise in NHP research, we propose to strengthen the BE through the creation of the National Primate Center for Pandemic Preparedness (NPCPP). NPCPP will establish an integrated continuum spanning NHP breeding through to the effective translation of research into clinical development.
The objectives of NPCPP are to:
- supply NHPs and associated research models to Canada’s biomanufacturing ecosystem;
- provide state-of-the-art bioimaging capabilities for large animals;
- offer GLP-compliant CL3 facilities dedicated to NHP-based research.
The upcoming Québec cyclotron will enable the production of custom isotopes for animal PET/CT imaging, addressing another critical gap in the BE. This optimized infrastructure will support national networking efforts, complement existing facilities, and serve as a unique training site for highly qualified personnel (HQP).
By making NHPs available for preclinical studies supported by integrated CL3 and GLP services, NPCPP will directly support Canada’s bioindustry while accelerating the translation of research outputs into commercial products. As such, NPCPP will be fully aligned with the Canadian Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, addressing domestic needs while positioning Canada among international leaders in pandemic preparedness and biomedical innovation.