7 
primate colony in the U. S. for use in a "national long-term primate 
radiation program." Discouraged in 1954 by the reception the proposal 
received, the committee asked its subcommittee to reevaluate the proposal. 
The result was that in January 1955 the Committee on Radiation Studies said 
"new methods of handling primates and the newer drugs for controlling tuber- 
culosis seem to have eliminated the necessity for having one large central 
laboratory with monkeys kept under ideal conditions for a long period of 
time *." Instead, support for existing "excellent primate laboratories" 
was urged. The committee asked that the proposal of its subcommittee be 
presented to the National Advisory Councils. 
In May 1955, the attention of the Committee on Radiation Studies was directed 
to a Public Health Service (PHS) memorandum^' about a nationwide survey, 
requested by the State Department, of the actual need for rhesus monkeys for 
medical and biological purposes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1955. 
In June 1955, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, under the auspices 
of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council in Washington, 
D. C, held a conference on "The Procurement and Producti on of Rhesus Monkeys, "(4) 
In 1955, a National Advisory Committee on Rhesus Monkey Requirements (NACRMR) ~ 
was established in the DRG with Dr. E. Cowles Andrus as chairman.'^ Throughout 
its history, this advisory group was concerned with the importation and cer- 
tification of monkeys from India. Later, when it became the NACP and still 
later the PRSS, it worked closely with the Heart Institute and its Advisory 
Council in the development of the Regional Primate Research Centers Program. 
In 1956 and 1957, at its regular meetings, the Human Embryology and Develop- 
ment Study Section discussed the need for pregnant monkeys for research and 
appointed a subcommittee to look into the matter. This subcommittee recom- 
mended "support of both central and independent colonies of monkeys" (September 
1956) and requested that the proposal be brought to the attention of advisory 
councils and the institute directors of the several Institutes „ Upon learning 
of the interest of the Heart Institute in the establishment of monkey colonies 
to facilitate research, this study section in April 1957 again set up a small 
subcomond-ttee to advise on the matter. It recommended that the NIH Councils 
consider ways and means of meeting this need.-^ Nothing came of these efforts. 
Thus a number of groups and individuals had recognized the need for develop- 
ment of additional primate research facilities and additional research programs. 
They had expressed their concern repeatedly. In view of the continued expres- 
sion of concern and the proposals by committees and study sections, it is 
interesting that a national program of primate research facilities was not 
4/ Dated May 13, 1955. 
_5/ See (15) for a concise history of this committee. In 1958, Dr. K, F. Meyer 
succeeded Dr. E. Cowles Andrus as chairman. In 1959, the committee's name 
was changed to "National Advisory Committee for Primates" (NACP), and in 1961, 
to "Primate Research Study Section." (PRSS). The Study Section was abolished 
in 1964 when DRFR established a Primate Research Centers Advisory Committee 
for the initial review of applications. 
_6/ Subcommittee Report of August 23, 1957. 
