KINGSVILLE (August 5, 2024) — The National Natural Toxins Research Center (NNTRC) at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) will keep its distinction as the nation’s only federally funded viper resource center after a recent renewal of funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) worth 2.75 million over the next five years.
“This renewed support will allow us to expand our research capabilities and provide enhanced services to our users,” NNTRC Director Dr. Elda Sanchez said. “We are honored that our center is utilized by some of the brightest minds in the field, including a Nobel Prize winner, which speaks to the quality and significance of our work. This continued funding will ensure that we remain at the forefront of venom research, facilitating groundbreaking discoveries and advancing our understanding of these complex biological systems.”
With the continued funding this time around, the NNTRC will now also begin to integrate cutting-edge genomic and proteomic technologies, enabling deeper insights into venom composition and function.
Texas A&M-Kingsville’s NTTRC serves as a critical provider of high-quality single-source venoms and snake-related research materials to national and international biomedical and biological research programs.
The NNTRC provides native venom and purified venom components, recombinant venom proteins, and specialized venom research services of the highest quality to support snake venom–related research in the United States and abroad.
Items provided by the NNTRC include venom fractions, purified toxins, tissue, glands and blood samples to researchers specializing in areas such as venom and evolutionary biology. They also provide paid services such as product testing for companies who produce antivenom or inhibiting molecules.
“Our commitment to rigorous research and innovative supplement development is paving the way for safer and more effective treatments for venomous snakebites,” Sanchez said. “At the NNTRC, we are not just advancing science—we are making a tangible impact on global health."
