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Rutgers Animal Care Newsletter - Newark| June 2020
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I sincerely hope you and your family members are safe and healthy during this pandemic. Rutgers University Animal Care is with you in supporting your research. The University's Safety First Initiative should be the overarching guiding principle throughout this process, a shared community responsibility as we are laying steps for Returning to Research on campus. We must carefully abide by protective distancing (social distancing) and public health restrictions to minimize the possibility of an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus.
We are very excited to bring you Animal Care's second newsletter (summer edition) featuring new and current faculty highlights with their animal model and research focus. We continue to feature our core facilities, what they have to offer, provide updates on IACUC policies, upcoming events/training, and veterinary and husbandry happenings. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter or have feedback, please reach out to us at:
ruac@ored.rutgers.edu.
Sumanth Kumar Putta
Director of Veterinary Services & Attending Veterinarian
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Message from Liz Dodemaide, Director
The IACUC and the IACUC office are continuing to improve the Policy Handbook to streamline the review process. A recent change that I would like to highlight is to decrease the number of protocols that undergo Full Committee Review (FCR). For example, in the past all rodent category E protocols were sent to FCR. As a result, if a protocol missed an IACUC meeting it had to wait an entire month until the next meeting to be reviewed. We have now approved rodent category E protocols for Designated Member Review (DMR). This will dramatically reduce the time to approval for a large number of investigators. As always, I encourage you to become familiar with the Policy Handbook located in
eIACUC
and be aware of continuing changes.
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Protocol Writing Assistance
H
ave some time on your hands due to the shutdown and wondering how to fill your days? Get a jump on your next protocol submission - new protocols, triennial reviews and amendments. The IACUC office is working remotely but we are still available to help you with writing your protocols prior to submission to the IACUC. This is very helpful if you have not worked in eIACUC yet. If you have, experienced IACUC staff can assist in making the renewal process a little less painful. If you have a protocol that was submitted into eIACUC in the early stages of implementation, it is advisable to work with the IACUC staff to prepare your triennial renewal. The system has been upgraded with changes to some of the questions. Since
the review process was so different, some issues were not included in the initial reviews done by IACUC staff, vets and IACUC members. Therefore, it is likely that you will need to make a number of changes to your triennial renewal.
Assistance will be conducted remotely via Webex or phone calls; no need to get out of your PJs.
To set up an appointment contact
Liz Dodemaide
or
Kelly Albanese
.
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Thank You to Our Dedicated CMR Clinical Veterinarians
T
he COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent University shutdown impacted biomedical research operations and presented new challenges for everyone. This is especially true of our research animals, since their well-being depends on the continuous care by both, the research staff and CMR veterinary care staff. Also, even during the University shutdown, IACUC must continue to perform its regulatory responsibilities.
As the IACUC semi-annual inspections were approaching for both Newark and Legacy Rutgers campuses, the IACUC office, in consultation with the regulatory agencies, designed a plan for the IACUC to perform the inspections while maintaining protective distancing. All facilities on the Newark and Legacy Rutgers campuses were inspected by our dedicated CMR veterinarians as well as the labs that were not able to shut down their essential experiments and continued taking the animals to their labs.
Completing this crucial task required extreme patience and dedication, and we would like to thank our clinical veterinarians in Newark:
Peter Condobery
and
LaTisha Moody
, and New Brunswick/Piscataway clinical veterinarians:
David Reimer
and J
ohn Hershey
, as well as our Attending Veterinarian
Sumanth Kumar-Putta
for helping us complete the April and May IACUC semi-annual inspections and fulfill this important regulatory and legal responsibility.
Damir Hamamdzic
Compliance Administrator
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Translational Research on Chronic Pain in Yuan-Xiang Tao's Lab
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Yuan-Xiang Tao, Ph.D., M.D.
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Chronic pain, a major public health problem worldwide, is caused by tissue/nerve injury and various diseases (e.g.diabetics, cancer chemotherapy, virus and cancer). Current treatments for this disorder are very limited at least in part due to incomplete understanding mechanisms underlying chronic pain genesis.
The research projects in Tao's laboratory at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School focus on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie chronic pain and applying these mechanisms to develop new strategies for management of this disorder. His team carried out distinct models of chronic pain in mice/rats, which mimic cancer pain, chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, nerve trauma-induced neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathic pain and arthritis-related inflammatory pan in clinic. The analytical methodology includes molecular biology, morphology, biochemistry, electrophysiology, and behavioral tests. Tao's laboratory has made great measurable progress, including five approved patents. Research work has been published in top-rated scientific journals, including Nature Neuroscience, Advanced Science, Neuron, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Nature Communications,
and more. Current projects in the laboratory are supported by several NIH grants.
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Tao's Lab members at 2019 Anesthesiology Department Holiday Party
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The process for new users to gain access to the animal facilities has just been updated. There is now a required orientation lecture, which will be offered by Tracy Davis, Training Coordinator for the Newark campus. Visit the
CMR training
section on Animal Care website f
or complete details, and visit the CRS website to sign up for the course
.
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Carbon Dioxide - Update on Euthanasia of Research Animals Policy
By:
LaTisha V. Moody
Clinical Veterinarian, CMR Newark
Here at Rutgers University on the Newark campus, we have recently increased carbon dioxide flow rates from 20% to 40% in rodents due to the recently revised AVMA Euthanasia Guidelines published in February 2020. According to recent studies, it is more humane to euthanize rodents at higher flow rates between a rate of 30-70% volume of carbon dioxide per minute in the euthanasia chamber. This will result in decreased stress leading to a more rapid death. A recent study comparing 30%, 50% and higher carbon dioxide flow rates in group housed mice versus stranger adult mice showed that there was no significant difference in the time to unconsciousness
[1]
. It has also been reported that social stress-induced analgesic effect can occur in group housed rodents; a phenomenon that has been observed in multiple species that were housed with conspecifics. When animals are group housed, this can result in a stress-response to CO2 which is tapered with social buffering
[2].
If euthanasia is not conducted in the home cage, induction chambers should be emptied and cleaned between uses to eliminate "alarm" or "fear" pheromones
[3]
.
Another update to the 2020 AVMA Euthanasia guidelines is the new requirement to ensure personnel are trained on anesthetized and/or dead animals to demonstrate proficiency.
[1]
Photo [Figure 1]: Moffitt, Andrea D (2019). Emotional contagion in grouped mice exposed to CO2. JAALAS 58(4): 430-437
[2]
Creamer-Hente, Michelle A (2018). Sex- and Strain- related Differences in the Stress Response of Mice to CO2 Euthanasia. JAALAS 57(5): 513-519
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Mini-Thermacage: Helps maintain small animal body temperature
A critical rodent thermal support unit is now available at the Newark campus for research support. Visit
Mini Thermacage to learn more about the equipment.
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Role of Colony Manager - More Than Just Breeding
By:
Linda Zabelka
Colony Manager, CMR-NEWARK
I have over 18 years of experience in managing rodent breeding colonies for multiple investigators. As a colony manager, it is important to recognize that you are an integral part of the research team and the continued success in propagating important lines of animals.
Once you have established yourself as
knowledgeable
, trusted, consistent, completely committed team member, you become something more. The responsibility goes far beyond just putting male and female mice into a cage and hoping for offspring. It is hours of dedicating your time to keeping crucial lines alive. It takes experience to resurrect a line, and it takes passion and commitment to manage a colony efficiently. It is a responsibility I take very seriously.
Unlike other studies where you concentrate your time and efforts for a short term project, my responsibilities for maintaining these large colonies continues 365 days a year. I understand that the PIs have placed their entire research livelihood in my hands. It is an honor to have their trust in my ability to maintain adequate mouse stocks for experimental use. They rely on my abilities to foresee colony issues and counteract them to prevent loss. It's a feeling that can be hard to describe; I take a great deal of pride that I have the trust of so many current and past Investigators and I don't take it for granted.
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Newark Gnotobiotic Core: Where are we now?
The Rutgers Gnotobiotic Core has been very successful over the past couple of months despite the devastating events affecting our nation. CMR is currently maintaining a colony of C57BL/6 germ free mice and germ free Swiss Webster mice. We received our first international import this year and have effectively bred and maintained this precious line of axenic non-obese diabetic mice since March 2020. The colony has remained germ free and there have been no reported events of contamination. We have re-validated our sterilant usage, autoclave cycles, feed, water, cages, enrichment, and bedding to better serve our researchers needs. For more information concerning the gnotobiotics core, contact gnotobiotic technician
Amanda Bumber
or the Clinical Veterinarian
LaTisha Moody.
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Rutgers University Molecular Imaging Center (RUMIC)
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Brain Glucose Uptake
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The Rutgers University Molecular Imaging Center (RUMIC), located on the Livingston Campus, provides imaging resources for the non-invasive evaluation of structural features and biological processes in living systems, disease models,
ex vivo organs and preserved specimens. Physical objects (e.g.biomaterials, viscous fluids, ice crystals, assembled electronics, polymers, medical devices, etc.) can also be evaluated. Comprehensive imaging modalities for the basic and preclinical sciences include MRI, PET/CT, microCT, nanoCT, Optical/X-ray Imaging, High-Resolution Ultrasound & Echocardiography Technologies.
Image reconstruction, animation, 3D display and quantitative image analysis can be
conducted at RUMIC workstations or via remote access to
advanced VivoQuant software.
The Center is adjacent to CMR animal holding facilities for serial imaging, anesthesia, surgery, animal treatment and veterinary care. In addition to consultation and experimental services, the Center offers periodic training and conducts research to improve existing imaging technologies. RUMIC's mission is to empower Rutgers investigators by promoting independent use of the imaging systems, however expert assistance is available.
RUMIC is led by Ed Yurkow, Director; Derek Adler, Manager; Patricia Buckendahl, CT Imaging Specialist; and Peter Kuhn, Sean Wang, and Shawn Wu, In Vitro/In Vivo Project Research Associates.
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Histological / ex vivo Samples
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Bone Mineral Density / Body Composition
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In vivo
Organ & Tissue Evaluation
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Congratulations!
Lauren Bright, Associate Director
Lauren Bright was recently promoted to Associate Director and is now directing the global training and rodent health surveillance programs across both North and South campuses. Prior to her role as Associate Director, Lauren was a clinical veterinarian on the New Brunswick campus. Before she came to Rutgers in 2017, Lauren completed her laboratory animal medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania and received her DVM and PhD from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She passed the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine board exam in 2019. You may reach Lauren Bright at
lab440@ored.rutgers.edu
. She is excited to be in the new role, and is looking forward to some training program updates.
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Congratulation on your MBA!
Matt Keller graduated from Rutgers with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Lab Animal Option in May 2012. Shortly after graduating, he started working in the Bartlett Vivarium as an Animal Care Tech, while pursuing AALAS certification and a second undergraduate degree part-time. Matt achieved his AALAS certification at the LAT level in September 2013, followed by LATg certification in August 2014. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in May 2017 and was accepted into the Rutgers part-time MBA program for Fall 2017. In March 2019, Matt joined Animal Care's Finance team as Program Coordinator. In this new role, Matt has helped standardize the mouse enrichment offerings and assisted in deploying the new Biofresh rodent bedding. Recently,
in May 2020
Matt completed his academic journey and obtained his MBA, specializing in Supply Chain Management.
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Welcome!
Hello! My name is Arianna Quinones; I am a Rutgers University Alumna with a bachelor's degree in Animal Science! I have over 3 years of experience as a vet tech in various animal hospitals. I am excited to be a part of this team and to be Veterinary Technologist here at the Newark Campus. I will also be taking
on the role as the Shipping Coordinator here at the North Campus. I can't wait to meet you all! I can be reached at
arq8@ored.rutgers.edu
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LOCKDOWN CHALLENGE!
A girl went to school for the first time and the teacher asked her, how old are you?
Girl: I don't know but, I know my mother's age is twice my age.
Teacher: How old is your mother?
Girl: I don't know but, I know my father is 5 years older than my mother.
Teacher: How old is your father?
Girl: I don't know but, I know the sum of our ages will give you one hundred.
a)
How old is the girl?
b)
How old is the mother?
c)
How old is the father?
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June 22, 2020-January 31,2021 (June, July, Fall series)
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- Have any exciting research-related news or events you want to share
- Have Feedback?
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, Rutgers University, an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.
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