Animal Research

Biotron Animal Research Services (BARS) offers AAALAC-accredited facilities with professional animal care for Level 1 Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) mouse housing, individual housing rooms for other rodents and exotics, and controlled environments for approved departures from standard conditions. Laboratory and procedure space are provided for researchers.

For contact information, please check here: Biotron Contacts.

HOUSING OPTIONS

SPF mouse housing

The Biotron provides Level 1 Specific Pathogen-Free housing  and professional animal-care husbandry for mice at per diem rates. The Level 1 housing area has a researcher-accessible procedure area for manipulations in a clean environment. Animals may be transferred to Level 1 housing from other approved Level 1 areas, including the BRMS Breeding Core, pending veterinary approval.

Level 1 housing uses the Innovive ventilated rack system which is ideal for the welfare and protection of research animals.

Rat housing

Biotron provides standard housing and professional animal-care husbandry for rats at per diem rates. Rats are housed in micro-isolator cages in small housing rooms. An adjacent shared procedure room is provided for research manipulations.

Rodent and exotic housing

The Biotron can provide housing and professional animal care services for rodents and small exotic species for short-term projects and long-term colony support. Small controlled environment housing rooms provide for specific temperature, humidity, and lighting requirements for species-specific health and welfare requirements. Housing rooms can provide bio-isolation of animals, and procedure rooms are available for research manipulations.

Controlled environments

The Biotron can provide housing and professional animal care services for rodents and small exotic species for short-term projects and long-term colony support. Small controlled environment housing rooms are IACUC-approved for non-standard husbandry and provide for specific temperature, humidity, and lighting requirements for species-specific health and welfare requirements. Housing rooms can provide bio-isolation of animals, and procedure rooms are available for research manipulations.

Controlled environment rooms have been used for hibernation studies, aquatic housing, cold exposure, heat exposure, and alternate light cycle and other non-standard conditions. Temperature, humidity and lighting can be programmed to complex schedules. All animal rooms are continuously monitored and trained staff respond to setpoint deviations immediately, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.