NBC RCE Small Animal Core at ICPH RAF, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

The NBC RCE Region II BSL3 Small Animal Core (SAC) is available for use in research with animal models of bacterial and viral category A-C priority agents.

The UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School is home to the NBC RCE Region II Small Animal Core (SAC) and the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL). These facilities are located as a single operational unit within the International Center for Public Health (ICPH) Research Animal Facility (RAF), and are dedicated to the study of BSL3 Select Agent pathogens, as well as M. tuberculosis. The ICPH RAF has a total of 12,500 GSF of animal housing and procedure space under BSL3 biocontainment, and is directed and managed by Dr. David S. Perlin, Director of the NBC RCE SAC and Director (interim) of the RBL. The experimental programs currently serve the research goals of scientists from more than 15 institutions within NBC RCE Region II, and support studies in pathogenicity, host immune responses, vaccine efficacy, novel therapeutics and drug discovery, and improved diagnostics.

The ICPH RAF currently provides model studies of mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets and rabbits performed by the ICPH Research Animal Specialist Team on a fee-for-service basis. Studies include pneumonic and bubonic plague, anthrax, tularemia, glanders and MDR/XDR TB, and a new program for avian influenza A (H5N1) pending final regulatory approval. Aerosol infections are a major area of expertise for the ICPH RAF, including models for Y. pestis, B. anthracis, M. tuberculosis, B. mallei and F. tularensis. The ICPH RAF uses the nose-only aerosol systems for mice and rabbits including exposure systems developed by CH Technologies (Westwood, NJ) and InTox Products (Edgewood, NM). Each mouse exposure system has a capacity for 24 mice per exposure. The CH Technologies rabbit system has a six rabbit capacity per exposure.

The NBC RCE Liaison Coordinator, Dr. Steven Park, provides assistance in development of experimental design, submission of IACUC and IBC protocol applications, and expedition of regulatory approvals. All NBC RCE users are charged fees at a reduced rate for per diem housing costs and specialty procedures.

NBC members interested in using the BSL3 Small Animal Core may contact: 

David S. Perlin, Ph.D.

Director, ICPH RAF

Director, NBC RCE SAC

Director (interim), RBL

Tel 973-854-3204

Fax 973-854-3101

perlinds@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
225 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 07103