The Global Programs unit of the Washington National Biomedical Research Center (WaNBRC) was officially established in 1999, by Dr. Randy Kyes, to help direct, strengthen, and expand the Center’s international collaborations. The unit, now under the direction of Dr. Matthew Novak represents a broad-based, multi-component effort to support a wide variety of Center objectives and initiatives through four main objectives. These objectives also support many of the NIH-specified objectives that are central to the National Primate Research Centers’ Program:
- Resource Support, including lifetime care – Assist with the development of international and domestic breeding programs and related resource options to help ensure the availability of nonhuman primate resources at a local, national, and international levels
- Research – Facilitate joint research projects relating to the biology, management and conservation of wild primate populations and related global health issues with collaborating institutions;
- Training and capacity building to support for NHP conservation – Provide educational and training opportunities in primatology, conservation biology and global health for students, staff, and faculty from collaborating institutions; and
- Outreach for community engagement and education – Engage and educate the general public about the importance of primate conservation, the significant achievements in biomedical research, and the value of completing the loop of translational science, from bush, to bench, to bedside (Kyes, 2020), and back again.
Unit Chief: Dr. Matthew Novak
Dr. Novak brings a rich, multi-faceted background in biomedical research, behavioral management, and field-based primatology. Dr. Novak is also a Past President of the American Society of Primatologists and holds a long history with Global Programs, having participated in our international field courses since 1995, first as a student, then sending his own students, as a guest instructor, then by opening a new field site in Pangandaran, West Java, Indonesia, and now finally as unit director. After completing his graduate work in the laboratory at the WaNBRC in 2002, he served as a Postdoctoral and Staff Scientist at the NICHD’s Lab of Comparative Ethology, where he added field components to his work. Recognizing the need for science literacy and outreach, in 2011, he joined the faculty at Central Oregon Community College, where he pioneered hands-on laboratory classes and study-abroad field opportunities not typically offered to community college students.
Unit Personnel
Joining him as Key Personnel is Research Scientist Ms. Ilaria Turrio, who brings extensive expertise in macaque field research and STEM outreach.
Honoring 35 Years of Global Impact
Dr. Novak’s appointment continues the efforts of Dr. Randall Kyes, who directed GP’s operations alongside Dr. Pensri Kyes. Over 35 years, the WaNBRC, through Dr. Kyes, built the most extensive global portfolio and offers its’ services to the entire National Primate Research Center system. Highlights of this legacy include:
- 2,800+ Field Course Trainees: Across 148 field courses in 9 countries, GP has trained nearly 3,000 university students, park rangers, researchers, and local conservationists.
- Decades of Partnership Milestones: Celebrated the 30th Anniversary Field Course on Tinjil Island, Indonesia, and the 25th Anniversary Field Course at Tangkoko National Reserve.
- Community Outreach: Conducted over 180 outreach education events across 8 countries, inspiring more than 10,200 K–12 students in local communities.
The Future of Global Programs
GP is positioned to expand its focus to address emerging global priorities in biodiversity loss, zoonotic disease surveillance, environmental contaminants (micro/nano-plastics, forever chemicals, etc.) at the human environment interface, and stewardship of both free ranging and captive nonhuman primate populations.
The current GP unit maintains 4 international partnerships in program countries including Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, and Laos. GP will continue to partner with Nonhuman Primate Research Resources to offer services across NHP laboratory species.
Sustainable Resource Management & Sanctuary Services We are working to establish a Consortium of Conservation and Sanctuary Services to support lifelong care, breeding, and reintroduction strategies for NHPs. GP will offer scientific consultation and assist partners with ethical with ethical lifetime care and management of both captive and wild populations of nonhuman primates, and AAALAC accreditation goals.
One Health Field Research, including micro- and nanoplastics, environmental contaminants & Zoonotic Surveillance GP will collaborate with range country scientists to expand field surveys, track wild primate populations, and to assess habitat viability. By monitoring the human-NHP interface, this research will help protect global health for humans and wildlife alike.
Next-Generation Training & Inclusive STEM Outreach We are broadening our signature Field Courses in Conservation Biology & Global Health, extending domestic “mini” field courses to community college learners, tribal schools, and underrepresented groups. Through these initiatives, we continue empowering the next generation of conservationists and global one health leaders.