Facilities Information

There are modern and fully equipped animal facilities on all three campuses with the Laboratory Animal Facilities headquartered in the Biomedical Education Building on South Campus. The LAF facilities include:

• Animal housing for more than 13 species of research animals;
• High-security, barrier housing for pathogen-free animals and for genetically altered animals;
• Procedure rooms for use by researchers;
• Four operating theaters for sterile surgery;
• Two surgical training areas;
• Comprehensive equipment for gas anesthesia and anesthesia monitoring;
• A radiological suite for diagnostic X-ray;
• A pharmacy for sourcing and dispensing routine preparations as well as scheduled drugs;
• A clinical pathology laboratory for blood counts, biochemistry and other diagnostic tests;
• A conference room for training and researcher meetings; and
• An air-conditioned vehicle for animal transport. 

In addition, facilities for imaging animals are available at CTRC which include PET, CT and MRI.

A self-contained Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) unit is available in the Biomedical Education Building animal facilities on South Campus. It is:

• 1500 square feet
• Has eleven small rooms (cubicles) and the following support areas:
  • Two air locks (one at the entrance and one at the exit);
  • Clean area near the entrance;
  • Shower change area;
  • Large work area with a sink; and 
  • Two small storage areas.

There is an eight-suite, Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) unit available between the Biomedical Education and Biomedical Research buildings. Each suite contains an animal holding room and a separate procedure area. This enables you to keep the animals within their immediate environment when performing treatments and procedures.

We are strict in maintaining sterile conditions and all animals are housed in micro isolator cages and ventilated racks. There are HEPA filtered cabinets located in each suite to use for animal manipulations. The SPF facility is designed specifically to house rodents that are either transgenic or immunosuppressed. Positive airflow and HEPA filters ensure air passes from the inside of the facility out, to keep potential pathogens from entering the area.