Protocol for CUBIC Clearing and Whole Mount Imaging of Mouse Lung Lobes v1

This protocol is for Clear, Unobstructed Brain/Body Imaging Cocktails and Computational analysis (CUBIC) of mouse lung tissue for whole lobe imaging using Zeiss Lightsheet Imaging. All experimental procedures were performed in the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)-certified laboratory animal facility at the University of California San Diego, following protocols approved by the institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC). The procedures should incorporate all local requirements for standards of animal experimentation.

Perceptions of laboratory animal facility managers regarding institutional transparency

Institutions that conduct animal research are often obliged to release some information under various legal or regulatory frameworks. However, within an institution, perspectives on sharing information with the broader public are not well documented. Inside animal facilities, managers exist at the interface between the people who conduct animal research and those charged with providing care for those animals. Their perception of transparency may influence their interpretation of the institutional culture of transparency and may also influence others who use these facilities. The objective of our study was to describe perceptions of transparency among animal research facility managers (all working within the same ethical oversight program), and how these perceptions influenced their experiences. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were used to describe perceptions and experiences of 12 facility managers relating to animal research transparency. Four themes emerged from the participant interviews: 1) communication strategies, 2) impact on participant, 3) expectations of transparency, and 4) institutional policies. Similarities and differences regarding perceptions of transparency existed among participants, with notable differences between participants working at university versus hospital campuses. These results illustrate differences in perceptions of transparency within one institutional animal care and use program. We conclude that institutions, regulators and the public should not assume a uniform interpretation of a culture of transparency among managers, and that sustained communication efforts are required to support managers and to allow them to develop shared perspectives.

Tackling the Covid-19 Pandemic in Animal Facilities: ACTREC Perspectives

The Novel Coronavirus outbreak gave learning lesson to the entire world especially about how to fight with the invisible enemy. The scientific community is engaged in exploring the pathogenesis of this Novel disease and inventing the antivirals. At the same time, laboratory animal facility key personnel are busy in carrying out facility operations without compromising the laboratory animal welfare and on-going animal research. In general, every laboratory animal facility establishes the disaster management plan considering the possibility of fire, earthquake, cyclones or flood. Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Animal Facility also has well documented disaster plan in place. However, incorporation of preparedness plan against disaster due to pandemic was never thought of. However, with our extensive experience, great team efforts and timely decisions, we could continue facility operations without compromising animal welfare, on-going animal research and health of animal care personnel. It is the need of hour to make a preparedness plan in advance to respond to any kind of such pandemics in the future. We wish to share our experience gained during SARS-CoV-2 pandemics. This data is concerned about us but may be helpful to other animal facilities in India and/ or across the globe.

Laboratory animal facility management

The successful management of a laboratory animal facility is based on the design and implementation of a management program, which in most cases covers the minimum legislative requirements and goes further, in order to achieve more in the field of animal welfare. A complete management program should consist of the following main points: a) Monitoring of animal housing, the macro- and microenvironment of the animals, b) veterinary medical care, c) monitoring of electromechanical equipment and the overall construction of the animal facility, and designing of emergency and disaster plans, d) monitoring of the overall program by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee responsible to oversee and evaluate the management program of the facility, e) education and training of personnel and f) the implementation of an occupational health and safety program.