I. Introduction

In response to recommendations from the National Research Council's report, Chimpanzees in Research: Strategies for Their Ethical Care, Management, and Use, the NIH Director, Dr. Harold Varmus, charged the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) with developing a centralized, national NIH Chimpanzee Management Program (ChiMP) for biomedical research chimpanzees.

The ChiMP provides cost-effective housing and maintenance at three NIH-supported Chimpanzee Biomedical Research Program (CBRP) facilities for chimpanzees, supported by cooperative agreements. Chimpanzees, not currently owned by NIH, may be transferred to the ChiMP facilities in keeping with criteria for ownership transfer established by the NIH ChiMP Office. Each facility complies with the Animal Welfare Act and policies concerning laboratory animal care and use. In 2001, NCRR awarded a contract to a fourth facility to provide support for the recent transfer to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of about 250 chimpanzees, previously used in HIV and hepatitis research.

II. NIH ChiMP Office Responsibilities

1. Develop, implement, and administer the ChiMP. NCRR has established the NIH ChiMP Office to develop and implement policies and provide programmatic oversight for this program. This office is administratively located within the NCRR Division of Comparative Medicine.

2. Establish a ChiMP Working Group of the National Advisory Research Resources Council (NARRC). This ChiMP Working Group of non-governmental experts helps gather and analyze information for NARRC. The Working Group provides advice on long-term plans for chimpanzees for research use, optimal breeding colony size, genetic mix of colonies, frequency and number of chimpanzee births to maintain normal maternal behavior, demographics, genetics, and principles for considering chimpanzees for long-term care at a sanctuary.

3. Impose a restricted breeding program at the ChiMP facilities. A moratorium on breeding has been in effect since 1995 and extends through 2005 for animals supported by the CBRP. To address biomedical research needs, a restricted breeding program will be implemented at the ChiMP facilities, consistent with good husbandry practices and for maintenance of normal maternal behavior. Periodic reassessment of this program will address research trends and needs.

4. Establish criteria and policies for ownership transfer. Chimpanzees not currently owned by NIH may be transferred to the ChiMP facilities, based on criteria for ownership transfer established by the NIH ChiMP Office. Complete health and research-use histories should accompany each animal. All animals should be appropriately screened for any potential public health risks, prior to inclusion in a ChiMP facility.

5. Determine the number of chimpanzees and optimal colony size. The NIH ChiMP Office, in consultation with the ChiMP Working Group, will determine the number of chimpanzees to be accepted into the ChiMP facilities along with the optimal size of the colonies to meet current and future research needs.

6. Establish a database to monitor NIH-owned chimpanzees. To ensure optimal chimpanzee colony management, a chimpanzee database will track medical and research histories, animal identification numbers, birth dates, sex, acquisition dates, ownership, and a disposition date for each chimpanzee.

7. Assess the physical capacity of existing facilities. In concert with the ChiMP Working Group and other experts, the NIH ChiMP Office assesses existing facilities and determines if additional facilities are needed. With the consolidation of chimpanzees from different colonies, renovations of existing facilities and construction of new housing are needed. The NCRR Division of Research Infrastructure administers the programs for modernization or building of research facilities.

8. Consolidate the CBRP facilities. Through a published notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, consistent with requirements for limiting competition for awards, the existing CBRP facilities were invited in 1999 to compete to become a ChiMP facility. NCRR has entered into Cooperative Agreements with three facilities; these agreements include terms and conditions relevant to ensuring proper care and management of the chimpanzees. The three ChiMP facilities are located at (1) the University of Texas, Bastrop, TX; (2) the Primate Foundation of Arizona, and (3) the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, LA. In 2001, NCRR awarded a fourth contract to a facility managed by Charles River Laboratories. This facility provides support for approximately 250 chimpanzees that were recently transferred to the DHHS and may be transferred off site for use in HIV and hepatitis research.

9. Provide funding for the NIH ChiMP. Starting in FY 2002, support for the NIH ChiMP will be provided through the NCRR Congressional appropriations designated for this purpose.

III. NIH ChiMP Office Responsibilities for Managing the Program

1. Maintain close programmatic oversight of the program with appropriate management controls.

2. Assure that excellent communications occur among institutions that maintain government-owned or supported research chimpanzees.

3. Monitor the status of chimpanzees used in biomedical research.

4. Monitor the supply, requests, and collective use of NIH-owned chimpanzees. Work closely with the Interagency Animal Model Committee (IAMC) that reviews requests for use of chimpanzees in research projects funded by NIH.

5. In concert with the ChiMP Working Group, develop sound principles and practices of breeding, demography, and animal husbandry.

6. Assure that investigators are aware of and have access to NIH-owned chimpanzees for use in Federally supported and IAMC-approved meritorious biomedical research.

7. Promote the appropriate use of NIH-owned chimpanzees for biomedical research.

8. Assure that entities that operate ChiMP facilities adhere to applicable policies, standards, and regulations for the care and use of chimpanzees in biomedical research.

9. Facilitate the ChiMP Working Group presentation to the NARRC. The Working Group may provide proposals for recommendations for Council consideration. Council may make recommendations to the NCRR Director for possible implementation. The Working Group may also suggest topics for workshops to be arranged by NCRR.

10. Consult with NIH and other HHS components as appropriate.

IV. ChiMP Working Group Responsibilities

The ChiMP Working Group of the NARRC is composed of senior-level biomedical and behavioral research investigators, including experts in primatology. The Working Group assists NARRC in making recommendations to the NCRR on the maintenance and use of chimpanzees.

1. Provide expertise, recommendations, and advice. The ChiMP Working Group assists NARRC in advising NCRR on principles of colony management, colony classification, and database development. The ChiMP Working Group reviews the ChiMP and makes recommendations to the NARRC on ChiMP-related issues.

2. Recommend mechanisms for ChiMP funding. The ChiMP Working Group and other experts provide cost estimates for maintaining the ChiMP in recommending to NCRR methods to ensure that adequate funds will be made available to support the care of NIH-owned chimpanzees. Funding is needed for colony maintenance support, genetic monitoring, facilities modification/construction, colony technical support, and program operating costs.

3. Recommend criteria and policies for ownership transfer. The ChiMP Working Group assists the NARRC in advising NCRR regarding criteria and policies for ownership transfer of chimpanzees to NIH. The Working Group also considers possible divestiture of chimpanzees, if overcrowding or a surplus occurs, or if the animals are more suitable for long-term housing at a sanctuary.