Accomplishments

During the 35 years since the founding of the laboratory most of the aforementioned goals were realized:

1. The laboratory played a major role in development of safe and effective hepatitis B vaccines, in particular, a low cost vaccine now in use in many Third World countries.

2. Research at Vilab provided data indicating that hepatitis C virus is probably the only cause of non-A, non-B post-transfusion hepatitis.

3. A sterilization method, which has eliminated transmission of hepatitis B and C and AIDS viruses by blood products, was discovered through work carried out at Vilab. The validation of this methodology, which has led to its worldwide acceptance, was made possible through the use of Vilab chimpanzees.

4. Over the years, awareness of the psychological needs of chimpanzees led to development of a variety of approaches aimed at satisfying these. Animals are held in groups of never less than two. Animals not in studies are housed in groups of 6-25 permitting normal social interactions. Infants are not separated from their mothers. All cages are outdoors, allowing visual and auditory enrichment.

5. The original concept of releasing retired animals into national parks was abandoned when it was realized that Vilab chimps had lost their fear of man, and could thus pose a danger to tourists and villagers living adjacent to park areas. Vilab therefore acquired four 10-90 acre islands in nearby rivers and pioneered methods to release groups of 15-30 animals onto these islands. Release onto islands began in 1978. During the next 16 years Vilab personnel gained considerable expertise in the rehabilitation and release process. By 1990 the released animals were well adjusted to their island habitat. Most adult females had given birth to and were successfully rearing at least one offspring. Although the animals had learned to eat the wild fruits available on the islands, it was necessary to supplement their diet and, during the dry season, to provide water.

The largest island was divided into three by the construction of two canals. This was a project of several years duration and required extensive manpower and continual maintenance (cutting back of mangrove, preventing build up of silt, maintaining transects). The last of these canals was completed and a sixth group of animals was to have been released at the start of the dry season in 1990. This was precluded by the onset of the civil war. Inspection in 1999 revealed that the canals were still functional.

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Director of Development: Lisa T. Fishler
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heprf@heprf.org

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The Foundation thanks Adobe's Gifts in Kind program for their generous contribution.

The Hepatitis Research Foundation would like to thank the Don and Rita Lee Foundation for their continuous support for immunotherapy of chronic HCV infection.

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