DLAR Newsletter
2024 spring edition
The DLAR Newsletter is published quarterly via email using MailChimp.
PPE is required in all animal areas at all times
As an important reminder, PPE is required in all animal areas at all times. This includes during standard working hours, after hours, on weekends and on holidays. This is regardless how long you will be in the animal area/room. The proper use of PPE prevents the spread of pathogens from one room to another, which keeps our animals safe and healthy, and prevents confounding factors in your research.
This policy is strictly enforced and those found disregarding this policy are subject to compliance reporting to the IACUC. As a reminder, DLAR is under camera surveillance 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
reverse osmosis (RO) AUTOMATIC WATER UPDATE
Following a few unexpected delays, we are excited to announce that the startup date for our newly installed and upgraded RO system is April 15th. The process will take approximately 1 week and will include animal rooms 036, 037, 050F, 051B, 051F,053, 054, 055, 056, 057, 058, 062, 063, 064, 065, 066, 067, 068, 069, 070, 071,072, and 073. This is to be a seamless transition with no gaps in water access to animals currently on automatic watering. Contractors and company representatives will be on site to assist in the process. Our hope is to eventually migrate the remaining animal rooms onto this system in the near future. We will be sure to keep you updated if/when that will happen.
Included with our new and upgraded system is a cloud based monitoring system (Watchdog EX) that will offer real time information on water flow, room temperatures and light cycles. If at any point the system detects a water leak or a change in room temperature or light cycle, a notification will be sent directly us. This will allow us to track these parameters, again, in real time and identify any concerns immediately. If you are interested in learning more about this system, please visit this website: WatchdogEX® Extended Monitoring and Control.
This was a truly collaborative effort, and we want to thank our wonderful PI’s, researchers, and DLAR staff for their patience and understanding through this process. We are very excited to implement this very positive improvement to our animal care program!
technical procedures & Training
Prior to performing any procedure on live animals, you must first successfully complete the required DLAR training class. Performing procedures without training is a violation of federal animal welfare regulations, IACUC guidelines, and the protocol. If you need to perform a procedure you have not been trained in, you need to signup for the applicable training class prior to conducting that experiment. For more information about training, see the DLAR training webpage.
entry into the vivarium
As a reminder, all research staff are required to swipe into the vivarium using their proxy card at either of the two vivarium entrances. Please do not use the DLAR lobby entrance as your main entrance to the facility. If you forget your proxy card or it is not working, please come to the DLAR main office to request a temporary proxy card. Thank you for your cooperation with adhering to our security procedures.
animal procurement | animal requisitions vs. animal imports
Animals Requisitions include the procurement of animals from one of our approved animal vendors. Animals Imports include the procurement of animals from an outside institution or an unapproved vendor. Regardless of how animals are received, they must be acquired through DLAR. Please reach out with any questions. We are happy to assist you with your animal acquisition needs!
Approved Vendors
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Charles River Laboratories
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Inotiv formerly known as Envigo
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Jackson Laboratories
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Mutant Mouse Resource & Research Center (MMRRC)
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NIH - Rodent Ordering System
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Rat Resource & Research Center (RRRC)
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Taconic
Animal charges are allocated via Concur to your index after animals arrive and DLAR receives the vendor’s invoice.
Animal Imports
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PLAN AHEAD! The import process can take several weeks to months.
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DLAR must receive a completed Animal Import/Export Request Form before the import process can begin.
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The receiving institution must meet DLAR’s animal health requirements.
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Animals are quarantined upon arrival and will be released once quarantine testing results have been reviewed. This can take up to several weeks.
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Various fees apply when importing animals from an outside institution.
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Animal Exports to outside institutions follow a similar process.
Please reach out to Ashley Kurth with any questions about the Import or Export process.
For more information, click on the buttons below.
new dlar staff!
You may have noticed we have a new staff member. Monica Martin is our newest Laboratory
Animal Aide and joined DLAR in December.
Welcome to DLAR Monica!
humidification improvements
Over the next couple of weeks, Facilities will be upgrading the humidification system for the basement of the Health Education Building, which includes DLAR. These upgrades will improve humidity control in DLAR. This work should be completed around the end of March.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about any of the information above.