Welcome Dr. Michael Zwick - Senior Vice President for Research and Institutional Official |
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On behalf of the Animal Care staff, we would like to give Dr. Zwick a warm welcome!
Dr. Michael Zwick, joins Rutgers after serving as associate vice president for research of the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center at Emory University and the associate dean of research and professor of human genetics and pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. He spent more than 16 years at the Atlanta-based research institution, beginning as an assistant professor in 2005. Dr. Zwick brings a wealth of experience integrating core facilities and making a significant impact on the research enterprise. We look forward to his expertise and guidance as we move to further develop our research teams and advance our core facilities.
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After much anticipation, months of development, and feedback from our users, we are excited to announce the launch of our newly designed Rutgers Animal Care website. With cleaner design and easy access to immediate Animal Care services and resources, we hope the new website will offer researchers and visitors a more comprehensive view of the Animal Care Unit within the Office for Research.
Some of the key features of the new website that we would like to highlight include:
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Our animal shipping program needs your help! We would like to know your thoughts on our import and export program for animal transfers to external institutions. Please click the link below or scan the QR code with your phone to complete an anonymous 5-minute survey on the program. With this poll, we want to determine how we can improve the program and better serve your needs. Thank you!
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Dr. Elizabeth Dodemaide retired from Rutgers University this past May and we would like to thank her for her years of service in the IACUC office as Associate Director and Director. We would also like to congratulate and offer our best wishes to Damir Hamamdzic as he moves on to the next stage of this career path. Leslie Bird will be taking over the role of Post-Approval Monitor (PAM) and IACUC office is currently interviewing for a second Post-Approval Monitor position.
Inspections
Semi-annual inspections are scheduled to take place in October 2021 for the Newark campus and in November 2021 for the legacy Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway/Camden campuses. Additional details will be available as we get closer to the time of inspections.
eIACUC Upgrade
The eIACUC website will soon be upgraded to include the following new features:
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My Inbox feature will be replaced with a dashboard, which will allow quick access to recently viewed protocols, draft submissions, and protocols under review.
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The Experiments page of the protocol will contain a green checkmark in front of team procedures that are referenced in at least one other approved protocol.
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The Alternatives and Duplication page will be redesigned to have alternatives search and an attestation to ensure there is no duplication.
In case of any interruptions or system downtime, the research community will be notified when we get closer to the time of the upgrade. We will also be providing assistance once the upgrade is done to help researchers get familiarize with the newly added features.
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Yong Kim, Ph.D.
Associate professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Core member, Brain Health Institute
Dr. Kim earned his Ph.D. degree for the studies of phospholipid lipases-mediated signal transduction at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in Korea. Dr. Kim joined the laboratory of Dr. Paul Greengard at The Rockefeller University where he received post-doctoral training in molecular and cellular neuroscience research. After completion of his post-doctoral training, Dr. Kim continued to work in the laboratory as a research group leader and investigated molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and drug addiction.
Dr. Kim started a new laboratory as an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Kim’s primary research interests lie in the molecular and cellular compensatory mechanisms by which brain cells maintain homeostasis in response to risk factors of complex brain disorders such as major depressive disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Kim believes that his research can identify novel mechanisms of disease susceptibility or resilience as well as disease comorbidities.
Transgenic mouse models are key tools for Dr. Kim’s research. He closely collaborates with Dr. Peter Romanienko at the Genome Editing Shared Resource (GESR) and uses multi-step in vitro fertilization (IVF) together with embryo transfer (ET) to surrogates or cryopreservation of fertilized embryos for efficient crossings and management of transgenic lines. Consecutive IVF/ET steps provide a massive and continuous production of experimental mice without breeding cages and with reduced time. Multi-step IVF/ET circumvents fluctuation of breeding conditions and tedious work for the maintenance of breeding cages, uneven birth dates of pups, and influence by any altered motherhood due to a phenotype of transgenic female mice, all of which are unavoidable using conventional breeding methods. Fertilized embryos at the final step can be cryopreserved for future experiments or a new round of multi-step IVF/ET.
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Getting to know Dr. Nicholas Bessman
Dr. Nicholas Bessman
Assistant Professor and Chancellor Scholar
Department of Medicine at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
What is Dr. Bessman's educational background?
"I grew up in Iowa and went to Iowa State University to study biochemistry. I knew I was really interested in doing biochemistry research. Once started I working in a lab, I realized I had a passion for understanding the molecular basis of human health and disease. To pursue this further, I spent a year as a research technician in a lab using mouse models to study vision at Duke University, and then entered a Ph.D. program in biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. There I took a brief (8-year!) pause from animal models, and used structural biology to understand how the epidermal growth factor receptor is activated by its different ligands or by genetic mutations in cancer."
How did Dr. Bessman get to Rutgers?
"Late in my Ph.D. research, I realized that the increasing precision in new genetic and gnotobiotic mouse models was opening an exciting new frontier in our efforts to understand the molecular basis of disease. I pursued post-doctoral research with Dr. Gregory Sonnenberg at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, with a focus on interactions between commensal intestinal bacteria and the mammalian immune system. By exploiting new genetic and gnotobiotic mouse models, we came to some surprising and unexpected conclusions about how iron interacts with intestinal bacteria and the immune system to impact inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I was tremendously excited to pursue this work further in my own independent lab, so I applied to positions all over the United States. After several months of Zoom interviews, I was convinced that Rutgers was the best place to continue to pursue my research. The gnotobiotic and transgenic facilities here are truly unique and remarkable resources! I started in April of 2021, and I’ve been working hard to get the lab set up and recruit staff, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers."
What has Dr. Bessman been working on?
"My ongoing research largely focused on the interactions between iron, the immune system, and the intestinal microbiota in inflammatory diseases. Using new genetically-engineered mouse models, we’ve discovered that different types of immune cells have unique ways of handling and utilizing iron during inflammation. We’re working to understand this better with the goal of developing new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases like IBD and cancer. At the same time, we’re developing new gnotobiotic mouse models to untangle the role of iron in assembling a healthy community of intestinal bacteria. We know from decades of work by many labs that high iron levels are associated with lower levels of a particular health-promoting bacterium called Bifidobacteria. We’re using these cutting-edge gnotobiotic models to understand the molecular dialogue between iron, the host immune system, and Bifidobacteria. We hope that by better understanding this dialogue, we can formulate new strategies to promote Bifidobacteria colonization in human patients with IBD or cancer, and to allow iron supplementation for patients who need it without suppressing intestinal Bifidobacteria levels."
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Rutgers Animal Care now has a Rodent Survival Surgery Certification that is mandatory for those who will perform rodent survival surgery. For all new surgeons as of July 2021, this is a mandatory certification to be completed prior to performing rodent survival surgery. If you are already cleared by CMR to do survival surgery, no action needs to be taken at this time. If you need clarification, please email the training coordinator for your campus. Information on the Rodent Survival Surgery Certification process can be found in the Training and Development section of the Animal Care website.
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For all researchers with rodent genotyping on their protocol, there is a mandatory training video and quiz that must be completed. This training, Tissue Collection for Rodent Genotyping (RU), is available on the CRS website within the “Animal Care Self-Paced Training” page. The video link and instructions to access the quiz will be in your registration confirmation email.
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The training team will be conducting physical euthanasia proficiency evaluations over the next several months. If you have a physical method of euthanasia without anesthesia on your protocol and have not been contacted by the Training Group, please reach out to your campus training coordinator.
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We are very excited to announce that the implementation of RFID cage cards is underway and that the new census-taking process will be implemented across our facilities in the coming weeks. This advancement will not only allow the Animal Care unit to take more accurate and frequent census but also offer more precise per diem billing. It is important to note that the RFID cards have special retrieval and disposal requirements, it is, therefore, essential for all animal users to get acquainted with this new procedure. If you have not done so already, please look at the virtual training video – ‘RFID Cage Card Request, Pickup and Disposal’ available on Course Registration System (CRS) via eIACUC to familiarize yourself with these requirements.
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To expand a bit on the retrieval and disposal procedure, please know that the RFID cage cards will be requested using the ACFC cage card request workflow and will be housed in centralized metal cabinets (pictured on the right), specific to the facility in which the animals are housed and stored by PI’s name and protocol. When cage cards are no longer used or needed, they will be discarded in red drop boxes located in a specific area in the facilities. It is essential that RFID cage cards are disposed of properly to correctly remove animals from the census, as improper disposal will result in continued per diem charges.
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Rest assured, as we come closer to the time of implementation your facility supervisor will work closely with you to help you transition to the RFID process. We look forward to working with you to implement this new technology! |
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Coming soon: iLab Operations software to access Rutgers Animal Care Core services
In the near future, Animal Care will start using iLab, a web-based core facility management system that will streamline the process of ordering services and technical expertise.
Advantages of iLab for Investigators:
- Monitor status of the services and orders requested
- University-wide platform – your profile will apply across all cores using the system
- Fully integrates with University’s financial management system to allow seamless tracking of billing and invoices, including the ability to view all grant funding accounts to request services
- Robust reporting capabilities such as the ability to track services purchased, projects/grants used to pay for services, who requested services, and several more
As we get closer to the implementation/launch date, we will notify the different PI groups, provide training and necessary support materials. Stay tuned!
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Ethiqa XR (1.3 mg/ml) is a newly FDA-approved extended-release formulation of buprenorphine analgesia and is available through the animal research centralized controlled substance program. This medication is labeled for use in mice and rats only. Ethiqa XR provides analgesia for 72 hours in mice and rats. Comparative Medicine Resources (CMR) will be phasing out the use of Buprenorphine SR and phasing in a suitable replacement, Ethiqa XR for rodent studies. Please note that this change only applies to rodent researchers currently using Buprenorphine SR. Buprenorphine SR will continue to be provided as needed to non-rodent users when requested.
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Germ-free mice are now available to purchase from the Gnotobiotic Core located in Medical Science Building by using ACFC online animal ordering system. The germ-free census has grown considerably and is in the process of expanding into 6-foot flexible-film isolators to provide investigators with axenic animal models. Additionally, there is a newly installed -80 freezer which gnotobiotic users can utilize for their studies and a fully functional anaerobic gas chamber will be arriving later in the year.
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The IVRS core offers teaching, training, consultation, and performing in vivo research studies for both Rutgers faculty and external entities. IVRS veterinary and technical staff have the capabilities and expertise to perform a broad range of in vivo research. The Director of the core, Dr. Shoreh Miller, has over 20 years of experience in vivo and in vitro research as well as over 15 years as a clinical laboratory animal veterinarian. Her staff has expertise in performing complex rodent and large animal surgeries, animal model selection, expertise in preclinical study design, execution of the study, and project management. The IVRS core has helped produce 3 FDA-approved drugs and is an excellent resource here on the Rutgers University New Brunswick campus. Researchers can contact the IVRS office for a consultation by email or phone number listed below.
Shoreh Miller, DVM, Ph.D., DACLAM
Director of IVRS
IVRS Office: 848.445.7333
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Congratulations Dr. Lauren Bright, Mariel Nigro, and Tracy Davis!
The Rutgers University Animal Care Training Group
was awarded the 2021 Laboratory Animal Welfare Teaching and Exchange (LAWTE) Top 3 Development Award.
This national award is granted to a group or individual who has developed a powerful and influential training curriculum in the laboratory animal science field.
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Congratulations to Nancy Rossi, Animal Care's Facility Supervisor!
- Nancy was 2021 Bio-Serv Enrichment Symposium Poster Winner!
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- Nancy's article on "All I Need to Know" was published in Laboratory Animal Science (LAS) Professional Magazine. We loved reading this one!
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Dear LAS Pro Editors,
My name is Nancy Rossi and I'm Animal Research Facility Supervisor at Rutgers. I created the following tips based on Robert Fulghum's essay, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Mr, Fulghum said "All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday school." With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts we all deal with at work and home, it has been a fun and gentle way to remind colleagues that we are all in this together.
Share everything: especially hand sanitizer, PPE & animals.
Play fair: play at home if you are sick or may have been exposed.
Don't hit people: stay 6 feet apart so you don't touch others.
Put things back where you found them: resources are limited, make it easier for the next person.
Clean up your own mess: cleanliness prevents the spread; cover your mouth when you cough.
Don't take things that aren't yours: especially masks and mice; make sacrifices when necessary.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody: it's a stressful time so take a deep breath and count to 10 when upset or angry; practice compassion, put aside differences, and support each other.
Wash your hands before you eat: and after you touch anything.
Flush: but do not use too much toilet paper.
Warm cookies and milk are good for you: so is enrichment for the research animals.
Live a balanced life: learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some: pretend every day is Halloween and always wear a mask with a smile behind.
Take a nap every afternoon: relax when you are feeling email or Zoom fatigue.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together: don't physically hold hands; instead support each other, give air hugs and embrace the virtual world.
Wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that, including viruses which can grow and spread very quickly if we are not careful; take time to learn new things and share your knowledge.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup-they all die. So do we: cherish the time you had with the family and friends you lost; appreciate and remember the research animals who gave their lives to find a vaccine and a cure.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned-the biggest word of all-LOOK: look ahead to the future and anticipate better times ahead - we are all HEROES!
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This year we had many Rutgers winners at the annual NJ AALAS Awards Ceremony!
• Nelson Cruz - Outstanding Technician of the Year
• Elizabeth Dodemaide- Outstanding Contribution
• James Boyce - Administrative Professional
• Lauren Bright - Ancare Veterinarian of the Year
• Jason Presutti - Allentown Manager of the Year
• Yvonne Lim - Bio-Serv Enhancement/Improvement of Animal Welfare
These awards are well deserved! Congratulations to all the winners!
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Dr. Roseann Kehoe DVM, MLAS, LATG- Resident Veterinarian
Dr. Kehoe has over 8 years of experience in laboratory animal science. She is a Rutgers University alumnus with a Bachelor’s in Animal Science. She completed her MLAS at Drexel University and her DVM at the Ontario Veterinary College. As new Veterinary Resident, Dr. Kehoe will starting at the New Brunswick Campus and can be reached at [email protected]
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Dr. Erica Lachenauer PhD, DVM- Resident Veterinarian
Dr. Lachenauer recently completed a combined DVM/Ph.D. program at Cornell University. Her thesis examined the interaction of folate metabolism with the development of neural tube defects in various genetic mouse models. Her residency research interests are reproduction and development, toxicology/pharmacology and euthanasia, as well as animal model development and validation. She is thrilled to be a part of the Rutgers University team as a new veterinary resident, who will be starting at the Newark campus. She can be reached at [email protected]
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Sussan (Suzy) Saleh-Veterinary Technician
Suzy started at Rutgers in Feb 2018 as a temp worker, and became a fulltime animal care technician in Oct 2018. Suzy achieved her ALAT and LAT certification by June 2020, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Suzy was recently promoted to Veterinary Technician and will be responsible for the SPH and RT facilities. Suzy can be reached at [email protected].
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Sheetal Parikh -Accounting Assistant
Sheetal is the newest member of Animal Care's Finance and Administration team. Prior to joining the finance team, Sheetal was part of Rutgers Global Study Abroad where she was working as a Business Assistant for two and a half years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Montclair State University. Sheetal can be reached at [email protected].
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Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD)
The Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD) is an initiative committed to educating others on the importance of the humane use of animals in biomedical research. We use the day to honor, raise awareness of, and pledge support for animals needed for biomedical research. This year we will be celebrating BRAD at both the Newark and Piscataway campuses at Rutgers University. We will have a booth set up with games, prizes, information, freebies, and more!
Please come out to learn more, win free prizes, compete in games, and have a good time!
- Newark Campus: Thursday, October 7th from 10 am- 2 pm in the hospital cafeteria
- Piscataway Campus: Friday, October 8th from 10 am- 2 pm outside of Woody’s Café
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If you would like to contribute, share research-related news, events, or simply have feedback, send us a message at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!
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