NIDCR Annual Reports - Veterinary Resources Core

National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The NIDCR Veterinary Resources program provides a dedicated animal facility that can accommodate 5344 mouse cages with a capacity up to house 26,720 mice to NIDCR investigators only. Additional housing for mice is provided in three shared or centralized animal facilities on the Bethesda NIH campus and can accommodate 1,589 additional mouse cages with a maximum capacity of 7945 mice. Only rodents are used by the intramural program of NIDCR. The NIDCR Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) reviewed and approved, or requested modifications for approval of 35 animal study proposals and approximately 130 protocol amendments. New personnel were added to approximately 55 approved protocols and 40 Annual Reviews of current animal study protocols were conducted by the ACUC. Training is required for all animal users, principal investigators, and ACUC members. NIDCR intramural scientists create and breed transgenic mice for experimental use in NIDCR operated and other NIH shared animal facilities. The NIDCR animal program is continually sharing these valuable animal resources and importing additional transgenic mice for specific research studies. The NIH Animal Program was assessed by AAALAC International in June 2021 and the NIDCR Veterinary Resources Core maintains full AAALACi accreditation. Continual reviews of facility operations are conducted through day to day quality assurance and ACUC inspections in order to remain in good standing with all applicable regulations.