The Center for Neuroanatomy with Neurotropic Viruses (CNNV) is an NIH-supported national resource based at the University of Pittsburgh, with a Herpesvirus Core at Princeton University and a Rabies Virus Core at Thomas Jefferson University. The CNNV:
- Serves as a central repository for virus strains that can be used as transneuronal tracers in experimental neuroanatomical studies.
- Trains investigators in the use of viruses as tracers, including the biohazard and animal-care procedures that are unique to this technique, and serves as a technical and intellectual resource for application of the virus tracing method.
- Provides specialized facilities for performing experiments with neurotropic viruses in a variety of animal species, including nonhuman primates.
- Performs targeted research to develop new strains of virus and defines new approaches for application of the method.