Vaccine studies using NHP

Authors:

Mark J. Prescott

Carolyn Clark

William E. Dowling

Amy C. Shurtleff

Publication:

Vaccines 9, 284

Publish Date:

19 March 2021

Background

Non-human primates (NHPs) have been widely used for creating new vaccines and treatments for human illnesses. It is essential that NHP vaccine studies are designed, carried out, and reported with high standards to maximise their scientific benefit, ensure their findings can be applied to humans, and use valuable resources efficiently. A critical element in this is applying the 3Rs: replacing NHP use where possible, reducing the number of NHPs used, and refining methods to minimise harm.

Summary

This paper describes the key findings of a workshop held by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to explore opportunities for refinement of vaccine development studies and facilitate better animal welfare, research quality and data integrity.

Key Actions

Refine animal care and husbandry practices, including housing, environmental enrichment and socialisation.
Wherever possible, consider training animals to cooperate during certain procedures, such as receiving injections, weighing, or administering oral substances, instead of physically or chemically restraining them.
Identify and implement early humane endpoints in conjunction with effective welfare assessment, clinical scoring systems, and appropriate monitoring.
Provide supportive care when needed, such as fluid replacement and pain relief.

Read full Vaccine studies using NHP report

Download report

Further questions

- Provide social housing, even under high containment. This is essential for primate welfare and can also accelerate recovery from procedures and mitigate stress
- Optimise enclosures and environmental stimulation by providing complex and stimulating environments with structural enrichment, toys and foraging devices to encourage natural behaviours
- Consider each animal’s experience and allow them choice and control wherever possible. NHPs should be trained - using positive reinforcement - to cooperate with procedures, minimising stressful handling
- Implement humane endpoints and provide supportive care. This includes pre-defining early indicators of pain or distress to trigger euthanasia or intervention before severe outcomes, using objective monitoring tools like telemetry, and offering fluid replacement, appropriate pain relief, and nutritional support
Analgesia should be the default when it is expected and predicted that the challenge process could be painful at any stage. However, the type of analgesic, dose, and treatment regimen need to be empirically examined to assess not only whether it is effective and beneficial, but also to confirm that it does not materially interfere with the course of the disease or identification of humane endpoints. This would lead to ethical and animal welfare issues.

Authors

Mark J. Prescott - National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)

Carolyn Clark - Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

William E. Dowling - Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

Amy C. Shurtleff - Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations