WINSTON-SALEM -- The Primate Center at Wake Forest University has been in operation since the 1960s. More than 1,000 monkeys live at the center and 450 African green monkeys were just added as a breeding colony.

"These are animals that range from infant and pregnant animals, all the way through older age and they give us wonderful opportunities for research that can actually follow the animal from infancy," said Dr. Allyson Bennett, who works in the primate center.

And having primates ranging from young to old means they will help in many areas of research -- especially aging.

"So what's really of interest is to study individuals from birth throughout their lives and get a sense of what their health trajectory is. Why you do that in monkeys instead of humans is in humans it takes a long time to go from birth to old age so it takes a long time to do that kind of a study," Bennett said. "Monkeys are much faster, so they grow up about four times faster than humans do."

And she assures that all the monkeys at the primate center are well cared for.

"They're very healthy, they're very happy. We have an excellent veterinary program here. The laboratories do things like make fresh fruits and vegetables, treats, puzzles, toys for the animals."

People can come out and see the Primate Center for themselves. Bennett says they are starting an outreach program welcoming student groups to the facility.

"The idea is to share some of the excitement about scientific discovery, share research findings to help human health actually come about and share with kids really the excitement of research and let them see up close what it is we do, where the new treatments can be made with animal research."

Officials are sending letters to science teachers in Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools to let them know about the open invitation for field trips. For more information, click HERE.