Lawrence E. Williams, Ph.D.
Department of Comparative Medicine, Division of Basic Sciences
About Dr. Williams
Dr. Williams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center. He has worked with non-human primates for over 38 years, squirrel monkeys for 35 and owl monkeys for 26. He has worked with the NIH-funded Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource for 35 years as leader for Resource Management and Behavioral cores. As a comparative psychologist, he has published on social and developmental behavior in captive non-human primates, as well as observational techniques and data analysis. His work over the years has involved the area of biomedical models, specifically developing behavioral scoring methods for studies using MPTP (a Parkinson’s disease model), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (both variant and sporadic versions), and Alzheimer’s Disease. More recently, his work has involved studies of the Zika virus in Neotropical primates at the Keeling Center and a proposed project that will deal with the behavioral studies of Zika virus infected animals; in particular social, cognitive, and motor development in infants born to infected dams.
Research Interests
My research efforts are currently divided between managing the research component of the Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource (SMBRR), and my personal research. The SMBRR is the only NIH funded breeding colony for squirrel monkeys. We manage approximately 500 squirrel monkeys with a focus providing animals, biologics, and expertise on Neotropical primates to the research community. Over the years my efforts have been devoted to the Behavioral Management of the colony, coving both managing group structures and reproduction to maximize the colony production, as well as the environmental enrichment of animals. We are continually evaluating the genetic makeup of the breeding groups in order to optimize the population heterozygosity and maintaining the maximum representation of founder’s genetic composition. In addition, we manage group structure to reduce the amount of agonistic interactions between animals and to promote species-typical behavior in the squirrel monkeys.
My personal research efforts this past year have continued to be focused on three main areas. We continue to collect developmental data on nursery and dam reared infants to compare growth and personality differences. This includes collecting data on neuromuscular and sensor develop in all new infants. We have begun long term studies on socialization in the nursery reared animals as adults in a social group. I have collaborative research project with Dr. Sarah Brosnan to look at cognitive and social learning paradigms in squirrel monkeys. Dr. Brosnan from Georgia State University will look at social economics and the cognitive abilities of the squirrel monkeys. Finally, working with Dr. Kuehl and Scott & White Hospital, we setup the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) laboratory. This effort studies behavior and reproductive hormones in the squirrel monkey with the aim of developing techniques that allow for easy ova-retrieval and in-vitro fertilization.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1982 | University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, PHD, Psychology |
| 1980 | University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, MS, Psychology |
| 1977 | Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, USA, BS, Psychology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Medicine, Division of Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, 2006 - 2020
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Talbot CF, Freeman HD, Williams LE, Brosnan SF. Squirrel monkeys' response to inequitable outcomes indicates a behavioural convergence within the primates. Biol Lett, 2011. PMID: 21508022.
- Power ML, Williams LE, Gibson SV, Schulkin J, Helfers J, Zorrilla EP. Pattern of maternal circulating CRH in laboratory-housed squirrel and owl monkeys. Am J Primatol 72(11):1004-1012, 2010.
- Milligan LA, Gibson SV, Williams LE, Power ML. The composition of milk from Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis). Am J Primatol 70(1):35-43, 2008. PMID: 17538959.
- Williams L, Brown P, Ironside J, Gibson S, Will R, Ritchie D, Kreil TR, Abee C. Clinical, neuropathological, and immunohistochemical features of sporadic and variant forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). J Gen Virol 88(2)(Pt 2):688-695, 2007. PMID: 17251588.
- Scammell JG, Westberry JM, Sadosky PW, Hubler TR, Williams LE, Gibson SV, Singh RJ, Taylor RL, Shackleton CH. Cortisol metabolism in the Bolivian squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis). Comp Med 53(2)(2):128-135, 2006. PMID: 16639980.
- Tardif S, Bales K, Williams L, Moeller EL, Abbott D, Schultz-Darken N, Mendoza S, Mason W, Bourgeois S, Ruiz J. Preparing new world monkeys for laboratory research. ILAR J 47(4):307-315, 2006.
- Scammell JB, Westberry JM, Sadosky PW, Hubler TR, Williams LE, Gibson SV, Singh RJ, Taylor RL, Schackleton CHL. Adaptive mechanisms of squirrel monkeys that minimize effects of extremely high cortisol levels on electrolyte balance and other physiological parameters. Comp Med 56(5):393-394, 2006.
- Horenstein VD, Williams LE, Brady AR, Abee CR, Horenstein MG. Age-related diffuse chronic telogeneffluvium-type alopecia in female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis). Comp Med 55(2)(2):169-174, 2005. PMID: 15884780.
- Akkoç CC, Williams LE. Population modeling for a captive squirrel monkey colony. Am J Primatol 65(3):239-54, 2005. PMID: 15772990.
Book Chapters
- Williams LE, Brady AG, Abee CR. Squirrel Monkeys. In: The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals. 8. Blackwell Science, 564-578, 2010.
- Williams L. Aging Cebidae. In: Interdiscip Top Gerontol. Karger: Basel, 49-61, 2008.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Chimpanzee Biomedical Research Resource |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCRR |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Testing of innate immunity stimulation via TLR9 on CAA using non-human primates |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NINDS |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Sleep Regulation in a Socially Monogamous Non-Human Primate |
| Funding Source: | Royalty Research Fund, Univerity of Washington |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Collaborative proposal: Social and contextual influences on the formation of expectations about reward outcomes across the Primates |
| Funding Source: | NSF |
| Role: | Co-Principal Investigator |
| Title: | Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Heritability and as a Biomarker of Inflammation and Risk Factor for Cancer in Rhesus Macaques |
| Funding Source: | Cattlemen for Cancer Research |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Antitumor Immunity by Natural Killer T Cells in New World Monkeys: Potential for Cancer Immunotherapy |
| Funding Source: | Cattlemen for Cancer Research |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |
| Title: | Utilization of Novel Techniques toward the Development of Transgenic Nonhuman Primate Animal Models for Biomedical Research |
| Funding Source: | Cattlemen for Cancer Research |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |