Established by Congress in 1962 and formally dedicated in 1966, NEPRC is one of eight Regional Primate Research Centers in the US. The Center is organized into seven Research Divisions focusing on AIDS, cancer, neuropsychiatric disorders, drug addiction, and neurodegenerative disease.

Primate Resources
The Division of Primate Resources, responsible for the care of more than 1,700 nonhuman primates, provides researchers throughout the country with the services and facilities to support cutting-edge biomedical research. The diverse colony of nine species includes more than 1,000 rhesus macaques and other Old World monkeys, as well as New World species including the common marmoset and squirrel monkey. The Center also maintains the largest breeding colony of cotton-top tamarins in the world.

NEPRC serves as an important regional resource to the biomedical research community. It offers a broad spectrum of services, ranging from analysis of tissue specimens to partnership investigations with leading biomedical research institutions. Among the Center's many services, a modern flow cytometry facility provides state-of-the-art immunophenotyping and cell sorting. A number of unique antibodies and reagents have been developed at NEPRC for use by Center scientists as well as investigators from other research institutions. Additional diagnostic and research services at NEPRC include testing for antiviral antibodies, DNA cloning, and DNA sequencing.

Services Provided - To Outside Investigators:
Specimens
Tissue specimens, organs, blood, skeletal structures, viral specimens, etc. Animals for approved research projects are provided from breeding colonies or other sources as required. Costs are normally assumed by the individual requesting the specimens.

Services Provided - To Collaborating Scientists
Scientists wishing to conduct research at the center must have projects reviewed and approved by the center's animal allocation committee. A brochure explaining the collaborative research program is available from the center. Most services are provided on a fee-for-service basis. They include veterinary services, animals and animal care, surgical and radiographic services, timed mating, biocontainment, pathology services, and professional and technical expertise.

Animals
Colonies of rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta ), cynomolgus macaque ( M. fascicularis ), common marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus ), and squirrel monkey ( Saimiri sciureus ). Other species can be obtained. Animals with exceptional characteristics (specific-pathogen-free, timed pregnancy, surgically altered, etc.) can be made available if needed.