NCTR’s Division of Veterinary Services - Quick Facts

NCTR has a proven track record of conducting biomedical research of the highest quality due to a commitment to excellence in all aspects of the program, including animal care and use. Our animal facilities consist of over 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to providing state-of-the-art housing and care of research animals. Although, most studies are conducted in conventional animal environments, experiments with a BSL-3 housing requirement can also be accommodated (see biocontainment insert). Our photoxicology unit is one of only two such facilities in the country in which animal models can be exposed to simulated solar light in precise amounts. All NCTR animal facilities are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

A variety of housing options are available for rodent models including ventilated rack systems and automatic watering systems. A barrier-maintained rodent breeding facility established over thirty years ago provides many of the the strains used for on-site experiments. In addition to an extensive health surveillance program for locally-produced animals, a recently-built quarantine facility enables isolation and screening of vendor-produced animals to preclude the entry of pathogens into the research animal population.

A first-rate animal care and use program requires a highly trained and experienced professional staff. The Division of Veterinary Services, directed by a board certified laboratory animal veterinarian, manages all animal resource and veterinary care functions. Over 90% of our animal care technicians are certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). All supervisory personnel are Laboratory Animal Technologists (LATGs), the highest level of AALAS certification, and many are CMAR certified (Certified Manager of Animal Resources). In addition, an extensive in-house training program ensures that our technicians continue to gain knowledge and learn new skills.

A wide variety of common technical procedures can readily be performed such as oral gavage of test articles, parenteral administration of test articles, collection of biological samples, behavior testing, anesthetic administration, and surgical procedures. However, developing and implementing more challenging techniques is our forte. For example, we successfully perfected a method to administer solutions via oral gavage to one-day-old mice. Also, oral gavage using an automated, computer-interfaced delivery system allows a precise, minute amount of test article solution to be delivered to the animal. The quality of all studies is ensured via computerized data collection systems and a comprehensive quality assurance program.

In addition to standard species and strains, NCTR scientists also utilize transgenic rodents to help assess toxicity of test articles. Our animal care staff has extensive experience and success in maintaining transgenic rodent colonies which often require special housing, care, and breeding considerations.

Many of our toxicology studies involve administration of test articles in the diet or drinking water. All such dosed diets and dosed water are prepared on-site under barrier-maintained Specific Pathogen Free conditions in our Diet Preparation Facility. All rodent chow is autoclaved into facility before being processed and distributed to animal rooms. A strict regimen of microbial and chemical testing before leaving the facility and throughout the study precludes variability in diet composition.

The Diet Preparation Facility is a well-equipped, large-scale formulation services unit containing a Specific Pathogen Free barrier work area and with four autoclaves, nine Patterson-Kelly V-blenders, two California pellet mills, seven paddle mixers, and a Bauermeister grinder. This equipment allows a production capability of 200,000 kg of dosed feed per year. Diets can be mixed with test articles in solution or solid state in concentrations as low as 0.1 ppb.

In addition to dosed diets and dosed water, the diet preparation staff has been successful in producing test article-incorporated creams for topical application. Preparation of these highly specific dosed creams has been a critical component of our photoxicology program.

Additional information about NCTR's Division  of Veterinary Services