Primates at a Glance

Nonhuman primates have a rich history of contributing to significant medical advances such as the polio vaccine, organ transplantation, blood transfusions, and surgical procedures to treat debilitating neurological symptoms like tremors and stiffness.

Nonhuman primates are currently vital to the quest for treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, prostate cancer, coronary heart disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, Ebola, malaria, and AIDS.

Rhesus macaques are one of the most common species of nonhuman primates needed for biomedical research.  Other species of nonhuman primates important for the advancement of science and medicine include cynomolgus and pigtail macaques, baboons, marmosets, titi monkeys, and lemurs.

Although nonhuman primates make up less than one-half of one percent of animal models in biomedical research today, they continue to be essential to the development of lifesaving cures and treatments.

Did you Know?

Therapeutic techniques for Parkinson's disease and tremors would not have been possible without research with monkeys.

Monkeys are important models for Alzheimer's disease

Macaques and marmosets have been important in medical advances in the Polio vaccine, life support for premature babies, and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease.

Monkeys are critical to all stages of research from discovery to drug development.

  • Baboon

    Baboons have long been important models of human diseases and for understanding physiology.  This is due to their many similarities to humans.… Read More ›

  • Rhesus macaque

    Rhesus macaque monkeys are an important animal model due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Many benefits to human health would… Read More ›

  • Marmoset

    The common marmoset is important in studies for safety, reproductive biology, neuroscience, and drug development. Its small size and many similarities with… Read More ›

  • Titi Monkey

    Titi monkeys are one of the few nonhuman primate models that develop social attachment. Therefore, they are involved in the study of… Read More ›