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National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The National Institutes of Health provided the Callitrichid Research Center with its first federal grant in 1987, providing $50,000 for two years. Recently, we have been involved in a 5-year project on offspring development and its modulation by social environments.
The National Institutes of Health provided the CRC with its first research grant in 1987, a $68,000 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) grant. In 2001, a five-year R01 award was given to Dr. French, and that grant has been continuously funded since that time (currently funded through 2015. The grant focuses on the impact of two components of early environment on somatic, behavioral, and endocrine maturation in white-faced marmosets. The two early environments we focus on are: (1) prenatal endocrine environments during gestation, focusing specifically on variation in gestational exposure to glucocorticoids and androgens, and (2) immediate postnatal social environments, focusing on variation in early offspring care by mothers, fathers, and older siblings.
In addition to NIH support for the research on marmoset development, Dr. French was a co-PI on an 11-year project from 1998 – 2008 examining the role of maternal hormones in the modulation of maternal care in baboons. This work, done in conjunction with Dr. Linda Brent, then a staff-scientist at Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, TX, brought in $2,250,000 in direct costs for the project.
General Information About the National Institutes of Health:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) began as a one-room Laboratory of Hygiene in 1887 and is today one of the world's foremost medical research centers. An agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH is the Federal focal point for health research. The NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
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National Science Foundation (NSF)
Our research on marmoset and tamarin social behavior, endocrinology, and reproduction has been supported by the National Science Foundation throughout the years. Four grants totaling $740,000 were awarded directly to the UNO Callitrichid Research Center (Dr. French, PI). In addition, the CRC was an important part of an NSF-EPSCoR infrastructure grant ($2,950,000) in the mid-1990’s. The Endocrine Bioservices Laboratory that provides endocrine analyses for the CRC and other researchers throughout the world) was established with NSF-EPSCoR funding.
In addition, Dr. French has been a co-PI on grants from NSF totaling $2,094,000 on various projects, including the Masai Mara Hyena Project in Kenya, headed up by Kay Holekamp at Michigan State University, the Golden Lion Tamarin Project in Brazil led by James Dietz at the University of Maryland, and the Biological Substrates of Political Behavior and Temperament, led by John Hibbing and Kevin Smith at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Two UNO students were also awarded the highly coveted NSF Graduate Research Fellowship under the tutelage of Dr. French. These were the first two and only GRF’s awarded to students at UNO. Erin Kinnally and Adam Smith both remain productive and active in behavioral neuroscience.
General Information About the National Science Foundation:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the United States Government, established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, and related legislation, 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq., and was given additional authority by the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885), and Title I of the Education for Economic Security Act (20 U.S.C. 3911 to 3922).
The Foundation consists of the National Science Board of 24 part-time members and a Director (who also serves as ex officio National Science Board member), each appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. Other senior officials include a Deputy Director who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, and eight Assistant Directors.
The NU Foundation
In 2009, the NU Foundation awarded a $125,000 grant to the Endocrine Bioservices Laboratory and UNO's Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory for equipment and instrumentation upgrades. The grant provided the means for increasing sample preparation, analysis, and storage.
The NU Foundation provided a critical instrumentation grant to the Callitrichid Research Center in 1985. This grant provided our labs with equipment that is still in use today in the endocrinology lab.
General Information About the Nebraska Foundation:
The University of Nebraska Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation securing financial support for each of the four campuses of the University of Nebraska since 1936. The Foundation bridges relationships with alumni, friends, corporations and other foundations interested in academic excellence for the University.
The University of Nebraska Foundation encourages private financial support of the University of Nebraska from individuals, corporations and other foundations. It oversees the distribution of these gifts and of the interest earned from its endowed funds.
University of Nebraska Omaha
Every successful project needs a good start, and the callitrichid research program received its first funding from the University Committee on Research and Creative Activity (UCRCA).This UNOmaha intramural grant program was critical in providing several small grants in the early 1980's that allow us to gather sufficient preliminary data so that we could convince NSF and NIH of the merit of our approach and our projects.
General Information About the UCRCA: The University Committee on Research and Creative Activity was created upon recommendation of the Faculty Senate in 1978. The UCRCA consists of ten Members of the Graduate Faculty and one graduate student.
The UCRCA has the following primary objectives: 1. to foster the development of regionally and nationally competitive research and creative activity, 2. to promote application for external funding through startup and seed-money grants, and 3. to encourage a strong and varied research commitment as an inseparable companion to the University's instructional program.
In addition to UCRCA, UNO offers faculty-mentored graduate (GRACA) up to $5000 and undergraduate (FUSE) up to $2500 research grants. Here is a list of recent GRACA and FUSE projects at the CRC.
GRACA [Graduate Research and Creativity Activity]
2015
Differential roles of dopamine receptors in pair bond formation and maintenance in socially monogamous marmosets [Carp]
Effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on mate guarding in marmosets [Cavanaugh]
2014
Effects of oxytocin on the bio-behavioral stress response in marmosets [Cavanaugh]
Exploring the presence of the catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism and its potential influence on prosocial behavior [Mustoe]
Sex steroids, neuropeptides, and parental Behavior in mongolian gerbils [Taylor]
2013
The influence of novel oxytocin amino-acid changes in the oxytocin neuropeptide system on pair-bond maintenance in a cooperatively breeding primate [Cavanaugh]
Effect of Urocortin II on alloparental care in mongolian gerbils [Huffman]
Marmoset responses to inequity following manipulation of the oxytocin system [Mustoe]
The effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on male response to infant stimuli in the marmoset [Taylor]
FUSE [Fund for Undergraduate Scholarly Experiences]
2015
The influence of oxytocin on marmoset monkeys playing a cooperative game [Costello]
2014
Genomic variation in the glucocorticoid receptor of marmoset monkeys [Hochfelder]
2013
Investigating counterintuitive neuroendocrine responses to predatory threats in marmoset monkeys [Hochfelder]
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee has been a long-time contributor to our program in a special way. The diet of marmosets and tamarins in the wild normally contains anywhere from 30 - 70% protein (primarily derived from insects), but they do eat fruits.Hy-Vee allows us to peruse their out-of-fresh excess produce for use in the marmoset colony. The fruit provides useful nutrients for the animals, and provides them with the stimulation associated with a varied diet. We thank Hy-Vee for their support!
General Information About Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 200 retail stores in seven Midwestern states. Throughout our territory, the name Hy-Vee is synonymous with quality products, low prices and superior customer service. Our slogan, "A Helpful Smile In Every Aisle," expresses the foundation of our corporate philosophy. Hy-Vee's combination food and drug centers reflect the changing lifestyles of today's consumers. The emphasis is on freshness, variety and one-stop shopping convenience.