Division of Global Programs

Randall C. Kyes, Division Head & Core Scientist; Research Prof., Psychology; Adj., Global Health, Anthropology

Pensri (Elle) Kyes, Research Scientist; Affiliate Assistant Prof., Psychology

The Division of Global Programs (DGP) of the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) was officially established in 1999 to help direct, strengthen, and expand the Center’s international collaborations. It represents a broad-based, multi-component unit that supports a wide variety of Center objectives and initiatives. The DGP currently has 14 international partnerships in eight program countries including Indonesia, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, Mexico, India, and Laos. There are four main objectives of the DGP, that also support many of the NIH-specified objectives that are central to the National Primate Research Centers’ Program: 1) Resource Support: Assist with the development of international breeding programs and related resource options to help ensure the availability of nonhuman primate resources at a local, national, and international level; 2) Research: Facilitate joint research projects relating to the biology, management and conservation of wild primate populations and related global health issues with collaborating institutions; 3) Training: Provide educational and training opportunities in primatology, conservation biology and global health for students, staff, and faculty from collaborating institutions; and 4) Outreach: Engage and educate the general public about the importance of primate conservation, the significant achievements in biomedical research, and the translational value of the work.

Research

The DGP’s research program is focused on a broad-based approach to primate conservation biology with related investigation (“One Health” approach) of the pathogen status and transmission between primates and humans. The Division’s research involves extensive collaboration with our international partners and is conducted largely at partnering institutions and associated field sites in the various countries

Our conservation biology research addresses topics related to the natural biology and assessment of wild primate populations (e.g., population status, habitat viability, genetic diversity, reproductive biology, population management, pathogen status, anthropogenic threats). In addition to the focus on species of importance to biomedical research (i.e., long-tailed, pig-tailed, and rhesus macaques), we also conduct/assist with joint research projects focusing on population assessment of endangered primate species.

both the primates and humans. Using a One Health approach, we are focusing increased attention on pathogen status and transmission (zoonotic and zooanthroponotic) between primates and humans.

Representative publications:

Kyes RC, Iskandar E, Paputungan U, Onibala J, Laatung S, Huettman F. (2013). Long-term population survey of the Sulawesi black macaques (Macaca nigra) at Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Am Jr Primatol, 75: 88-94. doi:10.1002/ajp.22088

Kyes RC, Iskandar E, Farajallah DP, Saputro S, Kyes P, Iskandar F, Pamungkas J. (2015). Survey of the longtailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) on Java, Indonesia: Distribution and human-primate conflict. Am J Primatol, 76(S1): 88. doi:10.1002/ajp.22382

Roberts MC, Joshi PR, Greninger A, Paudel S, Acharya M, Bimali NK, Koju NP, No D, Chalise MK, Kyes RC (2018). The human clone ST22 SCCmec IV methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from swine herds and wild primates in Nepal: Is man the common source? FEMS Microbio Ecol, 94, fiy052.
doi:10.1093/femsec/fiy052

Schurer J, Ramirez V, Kyes P, Tanee T, Patarapadungkit N, Thamsenanupap P, Trufan S, Grant ET, Kelley, S, Nueaitong H, Kyes RC, Rabinowitz P. (2019). Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in urban landscapes: Investigating gastrointestinal parasitism and barriers for healthy co-existence in northeast Thailand. Am J Trop Med & Hyg, 100, 357-364. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.18-0241

Wang X, Xia D-P, Sun L, Garber PA, Sun B-H, Kyes RC, Sheeran L, Sun B-H, Li B-, Li J-H (2020). Infant attraction: Why social bridging matters for female leadership in Tibetan macaques. Current Zool, zoaa026. doi:10.1093/cz/zoaa026

Core Staff Scientists

Dr. Randall Kyes Receives Inaugural Kyes Award for Excellence in Educational Outreach at the 40th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists