Magnani_P40_Resource Core

Univ Of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester, Worcester MA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary – Resource Core Nonhuman primates (NHPs) will remain, for the foreseeable future, critical model systems used by the scientific community to elucidate disease processes and develop prevention and treatment strategies. Our resource enhances NHP research by producing species-tailored antibody reagents to deplete specific lymphocyte subpopulations. Because our cell-depleting reagents allow investigators to study foundational biological processes characterizing health and disease, they became established NHP research tools for infectious disease and transplantation studies. As a testament to this statement, during our last P40 funding cycle, we had the highest program activity in reagent development, manufacture, and publication citations since our resource’s inception. To meet these needs, we must continue to generate our high-quality NHP reagents while generating new reagents to maximize the utility of the NHP model. The Resource Component has been essential in developing and scaling up the production of novel, high-quality NHP immune cell-depleting antibody reagents that enable studies into disease pathogenesis. We have developed rigorous quality approaches, including eight analytics steps for lot release, to ensure our reagents meet the highest standards for NHP research. In addition to maintaining the production of essential reagents, the Resource Component will generate new monoclonal antibodies against NHP targets in conventional or transgenic mice, or from existing cross-reactive antibodies. Cell-depleting or control antibodies will be engineered into “primatized” forms to minimize immunogenicity in vivo and modified to enhance function and stability. Existing platforms will be used for large-scale antibody expression, and strict release criteria will be employed for antibody products intended for use in animals. To ensure that these reagents are available and accessible to the scientific community, the Resource Component will use a web-based platform to disseminate reagent information and implement a marketing plan to reach investigators using NHP models. A frequent community outreach plan to publicize our reagents and an established Executive Advisory Board to guide our research efforts will ensure that the Resource Component is meeting the needs of the scientific community. We will assess program effectiveness by frequent user surveys. A web-based reagent ordering system and a well-established fulfillment process will be utilized for timely response to reagent requests. We will also implement a disaster plan to safeguard the reagents, data, and protocols to protect the over 24 years of work and investment that have gone into these invaluable reagents. In summary, the overall goal of the Resource Component is to develop and provide high-quality, safe, effective, and affordable cell-depleting antibody reagents for administration to NHPs to advance these critical studies.