Validation by: Abby McClain and Sims Patton. Primate Behavioral Ecology (gw.edu/primatebehavioralecology), George Washington University, in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute.
Abby McClain and Sims Patton, PhD candidates at George Washington University, investigate how chimpanzees respond physiologically to social experiences, including the loss of close companions and aggressive interactions.
Their research combines decades of behavioral observations with biological measurements to better understand the relationship between social bonds, stress, and immune function in wild chimpanzees.
To investigate these physiological responses, the researchers collect urine samples from wild chimpanzees and analyze two key biomarkers:
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Cortisol: A hormone used to assess physiological stress responses.
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Neopterin: A biomarker associated with immune system activation.
Absorbance 96 was used to measure both biomarkers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), enabling reliable absorbance-based analysis directly in the field.
By connecting physiological measurements with behavioral observations, researchers aim to better understand chimpanzee stress responses, social relationships, and their implications for conservation and animal welfare.
The compact device allows researchers to conduct these assays directly at their field laboratory in Gombe National Park, eliminating the need to routinely transport samples to laboratories abroad.
Samples collected during daily field observations can be processed and analyzed on-site, with results available within the same day. This enables researchers to connect physiological measurements with behavioral observations collected in the field.
Photos: A glimpse into field research at Gombe National Park, from preparing equipment and observing wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat to processing samples in the field laboratory. With the Absorbance 96, researchers can perform ELISAs directly on-site, bringing biological analysis closer to the animals they study.
A Day In the Lab: Gombe Stream Research Center
Learn more about Abby and Sims's research and how Absorbance 96 supports their work in Tanzania
