Harvard's Primate Reproductive Ecology Laboratory is engaged in a wide range of research objectives designed to increase our understanding of the biology of our closest living relatives through the use of non-invasive techniques for monitoring primate health and endocrine physiology. Our researchers are experienced field biologists who seek to make practical applications of laboratory methodologies to answer questions about the interactions of physiology, ecology, and social behavior. We maintain the largest available collection of great ape hormonal samples and continue long-term collaborations with the Gunung Palung Orangutan Project, Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Budongo Forest Project, Gombe Stream Research Centre, and Hahn Virology Laboratory at UAB.

We are currently engaged in studies of both wild and captive primates, incorporating pioneering non-invasive urine and fecal collection and storage methods and using the latest in radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) techniques.

As a University laboratory, the Primate Reproductive Ecology Laboratory is a collaborative effort between faculty and graduate students in Biological Anthropology, and is heavily involved in the training of undergraduates and other students in the field and laboratory aspects of our work.