Celebrating the new Animal Care Complex

First buildings of comprehensive campaign complete with more on the way

The first major capital construction project envisioned under Texas Biomed’s 10-year Strategic Plan to modernize the campus and increase biomedical research capacity is complete, and plans are underway for further expansion this year.

The Animal Care Complex (ACC) at Texas Biomed’s Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) encompasses new state-of-the-art housing and health facilities for nonhuman primates. Two finished buildings provide nearly 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor housing space, and represent the first of several planned phases designed to support science through compassionate and ethical care of animals necessary in research.

The complex strategically positions Texas Biomed during an ongoing national primate shortage that was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when China shut its doors to all exports of research animals, severely impacting the U.S. supply chain and hindering the preclinical process of testing treatments and vaccines before human clinical trials.

“The ACC is playing a critical role in strengthening the nation’s ability to respond to future pandemics by allowing us to grow our colonies,” says SNPRC Director Corinna Ross, Ph.D. Once the initial phases are fully built out, the ACC will provide space for more than 800 primates, increasing SNPRC’s total population to about 3,500. The site provides options for further expansion in the future.

Nonhuman primates are the gold standard models for studying human health and disease and evaluating the safety and efficacy of new therapies and vaccines. As one of the seven federally-designated National Primate Research Centers, SNPRC is on the front lines of conducting research that benefits both humans and animals.

“The ACC advances our mission to support lifesaving research and provide the absolute best animal care,” Dr. Ross says. “The new facilities incorporate decades of experience and research in our fields, and it has been gratifying to observe animals explore the space and the many features specifically designed for them.”

Over the past several years, the Texas Biomed facilities team and SNPRC care and behavior staff worked closely with design, engineering and construction partners Flad Architects, AEI Engineering, SpawGlass and Pape Dawson to turn the ACC vision into reality.

“Our animal care staff are extremely dedicated and passionate,” says Matt Majors, Vice President, Operations. “The ACC buildings match that dedication with top-of-the-line materials and amenities that maximize comfort and safety for both animals and their caretakers.”

While most animal housing is built specifically for one species, the new ACC buildings can accommodate multiple species, including smaller rhesus macaques and larger baboons. Spacious indoor and even larger outdoor enclosures are modular to allow for varying social group sizes. The ceiling height provides ample space for climbing and easy access for caretakers. Species-appropriate features include perches, climbing structures and overhead walkways. Misting fans and indoor spaces will help keep animals cool during the summer, while heated floors and garage doors that can be closed to keep heat in will ensure comfort during winter months.

“Bringing these buildings online is vital for Texas Biomed and SNPRC to continue serving as leaders in biomedical research and animal care,” says Texas Biomed President/CEO Larry Schlesinger, M.D. “We are excited to press on and continue the next phases of construction as we realize our bold vision for the future.”

Texas Biomed will break ground this year on the ACC’s Animal Health Center, which will incorporate veterinary care facilities, pathology labs and a central hub for animal care staff. Plans for the third housing facility are being finalized, incorporating lessons learned from construction of the first two buildings.