The Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) houses approximately 5,000 nonhuman primates, primarily macaque species. The mission of the TNPRC is to conduct basic and applied biomedical research on human health problems using nonhuman primate models.

The Tulane New Orleans campuses (SOM and SSE) consist of large and small animal housing space located in three separate, centrally-managed facilities. Species include mice, rats, frogs, rabbits, swine, chinchillas, and anoles.

The Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSUSVM) has complete clinical pathology and anatomic pathology laboratories, surgical suites, several clinics, X-ray facilities and ultrasound facilities for a wide range of species. Animals housed include dogs, cats, swine, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, psittacines, reptiles, poultry, fish, amphibians, rodents, and rabbits.

Clinical rotations at all locations are configured to provide experience in species-specific medicine and surgery (diagnosis, treatment, preventative medicine programs, clinical and anatomical pathology).

The objective of the Tulane University Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Program is to provide a broad exposure to the field of laboratory animal medicine to veterinarians, to train them in the principles of biomedical research, to prepare them for board certification by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and a career in laboratory animal medicine. Two options are available to residents, the first, a two-year program emphasizing NHPs, and the second, a two-year program which is species balanced. Residents will complete didactic and hands on training as well as complete a first author publication using data derived from a hypothesis driven research project. The Tulane training program is unique in its inclusion of a National Primate Research Center (TNPRC), School of Medicine (Tulane SOM), School of Science and Engineering (SSE), Regional Biosafety Laboratory, and a School of Veterinary Medicine (LSUSVM). This constellation of programs and facilities offers a fertile environment for producing expertly trained laboratory animal medicine veterinarians who are capable of providing support in a wide variety of biomedical research programs. The following is a summary of the major components and site locations for the training program. Some of the training components are not linked to a specific site and will be performed across several locations within a specific year (i.e. research support, clinical medicine, administrative/IACUC). The six-month block of time dedicated for data collection for the research project is protected. Data analysis and manuscript preparation occur throughout the remainder of the program. Didactic educational components, which are offered from a single campus, will be made available through all rotations using videoconferencing technology that is currently installed at all participating sites. Regardless of track, it is expected that residents will be knowledgeable in the following areas after completion of the two or three year education program: -Laboratory animal biology -Behavioral management -Laboratory animal experimental models of human disease -Regulatory compliance and management for research facilities using laboratory animals in general and NHPs in particular -Preventive medicine programs for rodent and NHP colonies -Rodent and NHP breeding colony management and SPF breeding programs for NHP -Medicine and surgery in rodents and NHPs. The program is accredited by ACLAM and is focused to provide detailed training in clinical medicine and surgery for laboratory animal species in the environment of a biomedical research program. Residents are required to design and act as the principal investigator for a small research study focused on infectious disease, clinical medicine, surgery, laboratory animal management or animal behavior. The successful applicant will spend one month at the LSUSVM in Baton Rouge, LA, rotating through two vivaria covering a broad range of species. Weekly didactic colloquia are held in collaboration with LSUSVM for residents from the Tulane and LSUSVM training programs. Ten months per year are spent at the Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) and the Tulane University Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM) at the Tulane School of Medicine and Uptown Campus Vivaria. Additionally, training includes a weekly seminar, slide review, case presentation, instruction of veterinary students, facility management, and diagnostic pathology. Residents will participate in monthly virtual grand rounds and an annual meeting with fellow residents enrolled in similar training programs. Opportunities exist for subsequent doctoral level training at the TNPRC. 

1. Gilbert M.H., Baker K.C. 2011. Social buffering in adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Effects of stressful events in single vs. pair housing. J Med Primatol 40(2):71-78.
2. Doyle L.A., Baker K.C., Cox L.D. 2008. Physiological and behavioral effects of social introduction on adult male rhesus macaques. Am J Primatol. 70(6):542-50.
3. Doyle L.A., Baker K.C., Cox L.D. 2008. Successful pairing of adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Behavioral and Physiological Evidence. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 47: 56.
4. Kempf D.J., Baker K.C., Gilbert M.H., Blanchard J.L., Dean R.L., Deaver D.R., Bohm R.P. 2012. Effects of extended-release injectable naltrexone on self-injurious behavior in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 62(3):1-9.
5. Dobek GL, Zhang X, Balazs DA, Godbey WT. 2011. Analysis of promoters and expression-targeted gene therapy optimization based on doubling time and transfectability. FASEB J. 25(9):3219-28.
6. Dobek GL, Godbey WT. 2011. An orthotopic model of murine bladder cancer. J Vis Exp. 48 pii: 2535. doi: 10.3791/2535. PMID: 21339722.
7. Luchins K.R., Baker K.C., Gilbert M.H., Blanchard J.L., Bohm R.P. (2011). Manzanita wood: a sanitizable enrichment option for nonhuman primates. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 50(6):884-87.
8. Luchins K.R., Baker K.C., Gilbert M.H., Blanchard J.L., Liu D.X., Myers L., Bohm R.P. 2011. A research driven approach to nonhuman primate alopecia. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 50(6):1-13.9.
9. Springer DA, Baker KC. 2007. Effect of ketamine anesthesia on daily food intake in Macaca mulatta and Cercopithecus aethiops. Am J Primatol. 69(10):1080-92.
10. Springer DA, Phillippi-Falkenstein K, Smith G. 2009. Retrospective analysis of wound characteristics and tetanus development in captive macaques. J Zoo Wildl Med. 40(1):95-102.
11. Wren, MA, Dauchy RT, Hanifin JP, Jablonski MR, Warfield B, Brainard GC, Blask DE, Hill SM, Ooms TG, Bohm RP Jr. 2014. Effect of different spectral transmittances through tinted animal cages on circadian metabolism and physiology in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 53(1):44-51.
12. Wren MA, Caskey JR, Liu DX, Embers ME. 2013. Septic arthritis due to Moraxella osloensis in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 63(6):521-7.
13. Breed MW, Jordan AP, Aye PP, Sugimoto C, Alvarez X, Kuroda MJ, Pahar B, Keele BF, Hoxie JA, Lackner AA. 2013. A single amino acid mutation in the envelope cytoplasmic tail restores the ability of an attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus mutant to deplete mucosal CD4+ T cells. J Virol 87(23):13048-52.
14. Breed MW, Jordan AP, Aye PP, Licktveld CF, Midkiff CC, Schiro FR, Haggarty BS, Sugimoto C, Alvarez X, Sandler NG, Douek DC, Kuroda MJ, Pahar B, Piatak M Jr, Lifson JD, Keele BF, Hoxie JA, Lackner AA. 2013. Loss of a tyrosine-dependent trafficking motif in the simian immunodeficiency virus envelope cytoplasmic tail spares mucosal CD4 cells but does not prevent disease progression. J Virol 87(3):1528-43.
15. Gaither AM, Baker KC, Gilbert MH, Blanchard JL, Liu DX, Luchins KR, Bohm RP. 2014. Videotaped behavior as a predictor of clinical outcome in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 64(3):193-9.
16. Chen X, Scapa JE, Liu DX, Godbey WT. Cancer-specific promoters for expression-targeted gene therapy: ran, brms1, and mcm5. 2016. J Gene Med. Jul; 18 (7): 89-101. PMID: 27140445
17. Taylor JM, Clarke EL, Baker K, Lauder A, Kim D, Bailey A, Wu GD, Collman RG, Doyle-Meyers L, Russell-Lodrigue K, Blanchard J, Bushman FD, Bohm R. Evaluation of a therapy for Idiopathic Chronic Enterocolitis in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and linked microbial community correlates. 2018. PeerJ Apr 11;6:e4612. PMID: 29666764
18. Andrews DD, Fajt VR, Baker KC, Blair RV, Jones SH, and Dobek GL. A Comparison of Buprenorphine, Sustained Release Buprenorphine, and High Concentration Buprenorphine in Male New Zealand White Rabbits. JAALAS. 2020. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000132. PMID: 32674750.
19. Kezar SM, Baker KC, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Bohm RP. Single-dose Diazepam Administration Improves Pairing Success of Unfamiliar Adult Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2022 Mar 1;61(2):173-180. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-21-000059. Epub 2022 Feb 11. PMID: 35148813; PMCID: PMC8956219.

20. Kezar S, Shroyer M, Doyle-Meyers L, Gilbert M, Russell-Lodrigue K. Tracheal trauma in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Med Primatol. 2022 Feb;51(1):45-48. doi: 10.1111/jmp.12550. Epub 2021 Oct 24. PMID: 34693542.

21. Allen AA, Kendall LV. Immunomodulation Associated with Sustained-release Buprenorphine in Female CD1 Mice Challenged with Ovalbumin. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Sep 1;58(5):577-582.

22. Voros GB, Blair RV, Andrews DD, Dobek GL. Evaluation of Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Spironucleus muris in Mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2021 Mar 1;60(2):146-151.

23. Voros GB, Dauchy RT, Myers L, Hill SM, Blask DE, Dobek GL. Effects of Daytime Blue-Enriched LED Light on Physiologic Parameters of Three Common Mouse Strains Maintained on an IVC System. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2021 May 1;60(3):259-271.