Marmosets are small New World monkeys from South America. © Clem Spalding 210-271-7273

Marmosets are a useful biomedical research animal model that is growing in popularity with researchers. The monkeys' small size and shorter life span make it an easier model to work with, in some cases, than larger nonhuman primates. Texas Biomed currently has more than 350 of these squirrel-sized monkeys.

UT Health San Antonio and the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies have just signed an animal care and joint research agreement with Texas Biomed. The new collaboration involved moving dozens of marmosets from the UT Health campus into a newly-renovated facility that is part of the Southwest National Primate Research Center on the Texas Biomed campus. The new home for marmosets can house up to 550 of the research animals, making it the largest marmoset colony in the U.S. dedicated to aging and infectious disease research.

Corrina Ross, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Corinna Ross, Ph.D., talks about the projects these animals are involved with and the challenges researchers face when trying to find answers to complex human health questions.