Texas Biomedical Research Institute

What Texas Biomedical Research Institute does

Texas Biomedical Research Institute is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute founded in 1941 by Thomas Baker Slick Jr., headquartered on a 200-acre campus in San Antonio, Texas. The institute operates the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC), one of seven NIH-funded National Primate Research Centers, housing approximately 2,500 nonhuman primates including baboons, macaques, chimpanzees, and marmosets, and runs the first privately owned Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) maximum containment laboratory in the United States, one of only eight such facilities nationally. Its scientific work spans tuberculosis, Ebola, Lassa virus, Nipah virus, HIV, influenza, and respiratory infections, supported by seven integrated scientific cores including cellular biology, microscopy, molecular, vivarium, and spatial biology units, plus new approach methodologies (NAMs) such as Akoya Phenocycler, Emulate Orb organ-on-a-chip, lung-on-a-chip with patient-derived alveolar macrophage-like cells, and AI-based antiviral screening.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of federal grants (NIH, BARDA, Department of Defense), contract research services for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, industry master service agreements, and philanthropic donations. The primary customers are federal agencies requiring biodefense and pandemic preparedness research, pharmaceutical and biotech companies (Janssen, Regeneron, Pfizer-BioNTech, Novavax, Island Pharmaceuticals, Scancell, Salarius/Decoy) needing preclinical testing for vaccines and therapies under the FDA Animal Rule pathway, international research institutions in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe coordinated through the I·CARE program, and academic collaborators. The institute has contributed to several FDA-approved medical products including the Janssen Ebola Zaire vaccine (EU approval 2020), Regeneron's Ebola antibody cocktail (first FDA-approved Ebola treatment, 2020), and preclinical work supporting Pfizer-BioNTech and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines.

The institute is currently in an expansion phase, launching an $83 million biosafety research center expected online in 2028, a $2 million Tuberculosis Innovation and Technology Fund, an 18,000-square-foot Animal Health Center, and the Innovation Lab as a one-stop-shop for industry preclinical studies. It also leads the 40-year Womb to Tomb maternal nutrition research program with Wake Forest University School of Medicine and has expanded its international footprint through 15+ partnerships managed by the I·CARE program.

Name

Texas Biomedical Research Institute

Legal name

Texas Biomedical Research Institute

Website

https://txbiomed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Texas Biomedical Research Institute is an independent nonprofit founded in 1941 that operates a BSL-4 maximum containment laboratory and the Southwest National Primate Research Center, providing preclinical contract research, nonhuman primate models, and infectious disease vaccine development services to government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and international research institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research Organization (CRO)

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Veterinary Services (541940)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI), Reference Laboratory Testing (Clinical Pathology & Chemistry) (HLAMADAA)

Keywords

• Preclinical research services
• Infectious disease research
• Nonhuman primate models
• Vaccine development
• Biomedical research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government grants and contracts: NIH grants (including $3.5M TB vaccine grant, $4.5M TB/HIV immunotherapy grant), BARDA contracts for pandemic preparedness, Department of Defense biodefense funding
2. Contract research services: Preclinical testing services for pharmaceutical companies including vaccine and drug efficacy testing, conducted under FDA Animal Rule for pathogens without human trial options
3. Philanthropic donations: Funding from donors including Founder's Council, Texas Biomedical Forum, Argyle, Golden Circle supporters, and major philanthropy partners like Lyda Hill Philanthropies
4. Industry partnerships: Master service agreements with biotech companies (e.g., Island Pharmaceuticals) for BSL-4 nonhuman primate studies and specialized research services

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Texas Biomedical Research Institute is an independent nonprofit biomedical research organization that provides preclinical contract research services for vaccines, therapeutics, and medical countermeasures targeting infectious diseases. It operates a privately owned BSL-4 maximum containment laboratory, the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) housing one of the world's largest pedigreed baboon and macaque colonies, and the Innovation Lab serving as a one-stop-shop for industry and government preclinical studies.

Product overview

Texas Biomedical Research Institute is an independent nonprofit research institute (not a product company) dedicated to protecting the global community from infectious diseases. The institute offers a portfolio of research services and programs including: preclinical contract research services for vaccine and therapy testing; the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) providing nonhuman primate models; BSL-4 high containment laboratory facilities; the Applied Science and Innovation unit for industry partnerships; the Innovation Lab for preclinical studies; the International Center for the Advancement of Research & Education (I·CARE) for global collaborations; and various research programs including TB, HIV, Lassa virus, influenza, and cancer vaccine development. The institute collaborates with government agencies (NIH, BARDA, Department of Defense), pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions globally to accelerate diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines for infectious diseases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preclinical Contract Research Services
• Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC)
• BSL-4 High Containment Laboratory Services
• Innovation Lab
• International Center for the Advancement of Research & Education (I·CARE)
• Scientific Cores and Research Resources
• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Services
• Applied Science and Innovation Partnerships

Quantifiable outcome

• 154 million children's lives saved since 1974 thanks to childhood immunizations (referenced by Texas Biomed)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Island PharmaceuticalsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Master Service Agreement for BSL-4 non-human primate studies for Galidesivir antiviral program against Marburg virus
• Salarius Pharmaceuticals (Decoy Therapeutics)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Testing peptide conjugate fusion inhibitors for influenza including H5N1 avian flu using in silico and in vitro capabilities
• Wake Forest University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023Lead institute partner in Womb to Tomb maternal nutrition research program; Dr. Laura Cox leads program from Wake Forest
• International Center for Research Excellence (15+ partnerships)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2023I·CARE program managing international partnerships across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe for infectious disease research collaboration
• Scancell LtdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2023Preclinical testing of novel DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine using gene gun delivery; published in Journal of Biotechnology and Biomedicine
• Access to Advanced Health InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2022Collaboration to evaluate TB vaccine combinations in lab and animal studies as part of $3.5 million NIH grant to improve tuberculosis prevention and treatment
• UT Health San Antonio (Mays Cancer Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2022Clinical trials collaboration for modified BCG vaccine bladder cancer treatment; Dr. Robert Svatek serving as co-senior author
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2022Partnership with Dr. Hong Dixon for analytical quality controls and manufacturing assessment for modified BCG vaccine production
• Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for pandemic preparedness and medical countermeasure development; BARDA represents critical national security collaboration for biodefense research
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple NIH grants and contracts supporting TB vaccine research, TB/HIV immunotherapy, and fundamental infectious disease research programs
• Department of DefensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiodefense research partnerships for developing vaccines and treatments against national security threats including anthrax and Ebola
• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership for epidemic preparedness focusing on rapid vaccine development against priority pathogens
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year collaboration on Ebola Zaire virus vaccine development; vaccine deployed during 2018-2020 outbreak and approved in EU in 2020
• RegeneronflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to evaluate Ebola antibody cocktail therapy, which became first Ebola treatment approved by US FDA in 2020
• Sabin Vaccine InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvaluation of Sudan ebolavirus and Marburg virus vaccines and treatments; Sudan vaccine deployed to Uganda in 2022 outbreak
• Mapp BiopharmaceuticalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of Marburg virus vaccine deployed to Rwanda during 2024 outbreak; vaccine in Phase 2 clinical trials
• The Scripps Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner10-year collaboration with Dr. Luis Martinez-Sobrido on Lassa virus vaccine development; joint development of universal flu vaccine
• UT Health San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive Breakout Session Strategic Partner for Global Health Symposium 2025; collaborative research in TB, hepatitis, and infectious diseases
• Perkins & Will and WSPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGold level sponsors for Global Health Symposium 2025; infrastructure and engineering consulting partners

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wistar Institute: Independent nonprofit biomedical research institute focused on infectious disease, vaccine development, and immunology. Directly comparable as a peer biomedical research institute working on TB, HIV, and emerging pathogen countermeasures.
• SRI International: Independent nonprofit R&D institute with biomedical and infectious disease programs, providing contract research for government and industry. Similar nonprofit CRO operating model with diverse federal funding base.
• Yerkes National Primate Research Center (Emory University): One of seven federally funded National Primate Research Centers, conducting infectious disease and biomedical research with extensive NHP colonies. Direct peer in the NPRC system with overlapping BSL-3/4 capabilities and NIH funding.
• Galveston National Laboratory (UTMB): University-based BSL-4 maximum containment laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch conducting infectious disease research on deadly pathogens. Direct peer in BSL-4 capability with overlapping biodefense and pandemic preparedness research portfolio.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large nonprofit applied science organization operating biosafety laboratories and conducting biodefense, infectious disease, and preclinical research for federal agencies including BARDA and DOD. Closely comparable in CRO model and federal contract portfolio.
• Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (UW-Madison): Federally funded NPRC at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with extensive NHP colony supporting infectious disease and primate biology research. Direct peer in the national NPRC system with overlapping NIH base grant funding and academic partnership model.
• Lovelace Biomedical & Environmental Research Institute: Independent nonprofit preclinical research organization with biosafety labs, inhalation toxicology, and infectious disease capabilities for government and industry clients. Directly comparable as a mission-aligned CRO serving BARDA, NIH, and pharma with NHP and BSL-3/4 work.
• California National Primate Research Center (UC Davis): Federally funded NPRC at UC Davis with one of the largest NHP colonies in the US supporting infectious disease and translational research. Direct NPRC peer with comparable NIH base grant structure and BARDA-eligible BSL work.
• Oregon National Primate Research Center (OHSU): Federally funded NPRC at Oregon Health & Science University with significant NHP colonies supporting infectious disease and translational research. Direct peer in the national NPRC network with comparable NIH base grant funding.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Largest commercial CRO globally with significant NHP research services, safety assessment, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing support. Comparable in NHP and preclinical CRO services, but operates as a diversified for-profit public company with broader service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/txbiomed
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVjobMVNvh3o_e0CFnkiMlw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TxBiomed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-biomedical-research-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Texas Biomedical Research Institute