FASEB Webinar Highlights Role of Primates in COVID-19 Vaccine Research

By: Naomi Charalambakis
Thursday, December 3, 2020

On Thursday, December 10 at 2 p.m. (ET), FASEB will host a webinar, “Combatting COVID-19: The Critical Role of Nonhuman Primate Research,” to explore the contribution of nonhuman primate research in the development of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. Dovetailing with recent news from Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca regarding vaccine efficacy results, the webinar will examine the complexities of COVID-19 and explain why nonhuman primates serve as a premier resource for developing treatments.

Jay Rappaport, PhD, Director of the Tulane National Primate Research Center, will discuss ongoing research at Tulane that has enabled scientists to understand the molecular underpinnings of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Nancy Haigwood, PhD, Director of the Oregon National Primate Center, will provide a general overview of the role of nonhuman primate research in the advancement of science and medicine. More importantly, Dr. Haigwood will reflect on lessons learned so far this pandemic, and the importance of public support for animal research to maintain scientific progress and prepare for the next public health crisis.

Webinar registration is free. To learn more about the role of nonhuman primates in biomedical breakthroughs, view the FASEB “Animal Research Saves Lives and Cures Diseases” factsheet.