Stabulario
Supervisor

Animal Facility

The animal facility at CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore (Via Gaetano Salvatore 486-80145, Naples) is a user plant designed for biomedical research, in accordance with national and European regulations in force (Legislative Decree 26/2014, Directive 2010/63/EU), to guarantee the best housing conditions and the use of animal models, and promote good scientific practice as well. The building is 539 square meters, belongs to the optimized conventional category, and allows the experimental use of mice (mus musculus) and their breeding for experimental purpose.

Cages are equipped with an individually ventilated cage (IVC) system, in order to ensure constant microclimatic parameters, as well as a clear isolation of the mice. Rooms are designed to offer an environment that gathers both physiological and ethological needs of the housed species. At capacity, the plant may contain more than 6,000 mice, with a number of cages exceeding 1200 units. The enclosure includes a core division (housing) of about 80 square meters, divided into: one quarantine room; three rooms for housing colonies; one housing area for the use of genetically modified micro-organisms (MOGM) belonging to the class 2; one room for animals to be tested in behavioral procedures; one laboratory equipped with a preclinical imaging system (IVIS Spectrum); one area used for small microsurgical procedures, provided with a stereotaxic frame, as well as ultrasound and inhalation anesthesia systems. A daily cleaning schedule and satisfactory hygiene standards in the housing rooms are tightly observed. In addition, timed lighting conditions are warranted an appropriate light/dark cycle.

Standard operating procedures that take place at the CEINGE enclosure are certified as compliant with the quality management system ISO 9001:2015 (the current three-year period has been certified by the Certiquality certification Authority). Alongside with a core section for mice housing, the animal facility also consists of a large area dedicated to additional preclinical imaging procedures, which allow us to get anatomical, functional and dynamic information about the experimental animal models, including genetically modified ones, with the considerable advantage of carrying out longitudinal studies on the same subject, thus minimizing the experimental variability and the number of animals needed for the studies of interest. This section is equipped with: temporary housing room; one area for interventional procedures with inhalational anesthesia systems and monitoring of vital parameters. Finally, the CEINGE user plant has an area fully devoted to preclinical imaging studies by means of the high field nuclear magnetic resonance (9.4T).

SERVICES

  • Housing;
  • Colony management;
  • Gavage;
  • Blood draw;
  • Organ removal;
  • Organ perfusion;
  • Stereotaxic surgery;
  • Wound healing;
  • Echo;
  • Ultrasound biomicroscopy;
  • Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT);
  • Bone dnsitmetry (DEXA);
  • Laser doppler;
  • Fluorescence tomography 2D/3D;
  • Photoacoustic imaging;
  • High field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance;

ANIMAL FACILITY REGULATION

The animal enclosure at CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore is a limited access structure controlled by a magnetic strip card reader. Authorization for the access of a researcher or a technician is issued by the animal welfare manager, following a request from the contact person of one of the laboratories related to the enclosure. Access to the enclosure and related services will be granted only to personnel with adequate training, in accordance with art. 23, paragraph 2 of Legislative Decree. 26/2014 and, however, included in the research projects authorized by the Ministry of Health on the basis of art. 31 of the current legislation. Therefore, before starting to attend the enclosure, each operator must learn the correct entry, behavior and work procedures designed to reduce the risk of contamination and to safeguard the welfare of the rats. Access to researchers responsible for carrying out controls or experimental procedures is permitted in strict compliance with entry rules. Any visitors or researchers of other organizations will be able to access only if accompanied by already practical staff of the procedures.

MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH PROJECTS EMPLOYING ANIMALS TO SCIENTIFIC PURPOSE

1. Each project manager must send the project in question to the members of the body responsible for animal welfare (OPBA) (by completing all the required forms in Italian), no later than 7 days before the date of the official meetings at the following address: [email protected]

2. Once the documents reviewed by the proposing manager have been received, the OPBA expresses a motivated opinion about the research project and any subsequent modifications as well, informing the project manager (Article 26, d);

3. The OPBA submits to the Ministry of Health the applications for authorization of the research project referred to in articles 31 and 33 of the current legislation, still informing the person in charge of the project;

4. It is forbidden to carry out research projects involving the use of animals without approval by the Ministry.

The animal enclosure at CEINGE provide complete support for the elaboration of protocols for the execution of experimental procedures on mouse models, as well as for the drafting of research projects which will then be evaluated by the own OPBA.