Animal Research
ACCESS
The animal facilities used by the BWH Department of Hematology are located in the basement of HIM.
All lab staff must first request access then complete the training provided in the checklist before using the lab. Contact information for training courses can be found at the bottom of this page.
Need Irradiator access?
The in-person Rodent Survival Surgery Course is held the second and fourth Thursdays each month at 2:00 PM.
Courses are held at the CCM central office Medical Records Building on the Second floor (directly across from the Thorn elevators) in room 211A.
Attendees MUST enroll by emailing BWHCCMTraining@partners.org courses are capped at 7 attendees.
Optional Trainings
CCM Veterinary Staff is available to assist with procedure development or conduct of aseptic technique.
If you would like to schedule a one-on-one observation or help session, please contact the BWHCCMTraining@partners.org inbox.
Animals, procedures, and staff MUST be already included on an APPROVED IACUC protocol.
All researchers must complete the following trainings as appropriate to the nature of their work:
Below trainings that reference AALAS can be found at: AALASLearningLibrary.org
How to register for the AALAS Learning Library:
1. Go to https://www.aalaslearninglibrary.org/
2. Click on “Enroll Now!”
3. Select “Myself” when asked whether you are enrolling as an individual or as a group.
4. Select “Yes” when asked whether you have an access code (BWHIACUC295).
IMPORTANT: Register with your Partners email address
Click here for a printable checklist of trainings for animal researchers
Please use this form to keep track of your lab’s trainings. This form must be kept up to date and in the lab at all times for the purpose of semi-annual inspections.
In addition, all lab staff must be familiar with and have immediate access to the Lab Level Emergency Plan while working in BWH spaces.
All animal users must complete the following:
- Working with the IACUC (AALAS)
- Working with BL2‐N Infectious Agents in Animals (AALAS, n/a for aquatics)
- Safe Use of Toxic and Hazardous Materials in Animals (AALAS, n/a for aquatics)
- In-person Facility Orientation offered by the BWH CCM Facility Manager/Supervisor (Christian Hallman)
Users of USDA‐covered species must also complete:
- USDA‐covered Animal Species Training (in‐person)
- USDA Medical Records—(AALAS)
- For the purpose of training researchers conducting approved procedures on USDA-covered species, the CCM veterinary staff is considered to be ‘approved personnel,’ allowing them to provide the PI and his/her investigative staff with hands-on training on the procedures approved on the protocol. The veterinarian(s) may require the PI to order additional animal(s) to be used for training purposes. The procedures for which these additional animals will be used, including any terminal procedures, are to be described on the IACUC-approved protocol or in an IACUC-approved amendment to the protocol.
Users of mice and rats must also complete:
- CCM Cage‐Based Rodent Records and Necessary Forms (AALAS Learning Library)
- Survival Rodent Surgery—(AALAS Learning Library, if survival surgery is on the protocol)
- Survival Rodent Surgery Lecture—(One‐time, In‐person, if conducting survival surgery)
- Please Note: All researchers who will be performing decapitation, cervical dislocation, or other specific surgeries not covered by these training courses must first be observed to be proficient in the procedure by a Principal Investigator, his or her designee, or a member of the veterinary staff. This observation must be documented on a Personnel Training Form which must be kept in the laboratory and made available to the IACUC as needed.
Depending on species, aquatics users must complete:
- Introduction to Amphibians (AALAS)
- Working with Laboratory Zebrafish (AALAS)
- Working with the Laboratory Xenopus (AALAS)
*Aquatics users working with hazardous /infectious agents must complete in‐person hazard training*
Users of non‐human primates must complete:
- Working Safety with Non‐Human Primates (AALAS)
Short-course attendees who will be supervised at all times by trained personnel while performing terminal procedures on animals as part of a teaching protocol may utilize the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: IACUC Training for Short-Course Attendees. Use of this shortened training program must first be approved by the IACUC when individuals will not handle animals beyond the teaching surgery/procedure (i.e. anesthesia induction and maintenance and euthanasia must be performed by the trained personnel overseeing the teaching protocol).
To download the IACUC Handout for Short-Course Attendees, please click here.
For questions or to schedule an in-person training: BWHCCMTraining@partners.org
Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: IACUC Training for Short-Course Attendees
This brief walkthrough gives short-course attendees a look at the regulatory network organized to enforce compliance in the realm of animal research. Also included are strategies for enacting the Three R’s of animal research and how to report an animal welfare concern. This Appendix is required for completion of the Short Course for admittance to an approved teaching protocol.
Record Retention Guideline
All cage-based records must be maintained for 7 years in accordance with BWH’s record retention policy. This guideline specifies the types of records that must be maintained for this period of time for both USDA and non-USDA covered species.
Semiannual IACUC Inspections Guidelines: Significant vs. Minor Deficiencies
When an IACUC Inspection team discovers a deficiency during the course of an inspection, corrective action can be enforced based on whether the deficiency is considered major or minor. This Guideline includes a chart of types of infractions, appropriate corrective actions, and deadlines for completing corrective actions.
Tissue or Animal Products Use Policy
Some experiments require the use of animal tissue, but not live animals, for the purpose of the study. Sharing animal tissue for more than one project is encouraged, in order to reduce the total number of animals used in research and teaching. Tissues or animal products are also often available from licensed biological supply companies, as well as other external sources. Requests for Animal Tissues/Products will be reviewed via the Administrative Review process once submitted by the Investigator. Projects that will involved in-house euthanasia for the sake of tissue harvest will require an Animal Experimentation Protocol.
Training Requirements for Animal Researchers Policy
All researchers and staff working with animals must be appropriately trained. Appropriate training consists of completing the IACUC-required training and participating in relevant Brigham & Women’s Center for Comparative Medicine (BWH CCM) directed training sessions, as well as familiarity with related materials on the program web site. Documentation that each researcher has attended appropriate training is required.
Veterinary Verification and Consultation Policy
Certain minor amendments can be approved quickly via this policy. These minor amendments include switching from one BWH CCM-approved analgesia formulary to another.
Whistle Blower Policy
If you suspect mistreatment of animals or noncompliance with approved protocols, Hospital policies, local, state or federal regulations please report these concerns immediately via our Contact Us page. Reports will be handled confidentially and may be submitted anonymously. No whistleblowers will be subject to reprisal for reporting suspected violations or animal welfare concerns. Animal health emergencies should be directly reported to the BWH attending veterinarian or veterinarian on-call.
Administration of Hazardous Toxic Agents to Rodents by Water Bottle, Feed, or Injection SOP
This SOP for research, animal care, and cagewash staff addresses the proper use of toxic chemicals, biological agents, and radioactive materials administered via injection, oral gavage, drinking water, and/or food in rodents. Information regarding cage labeling, MSDS management, and other regulatory requirements regarding hazardous agents can also be found here.
Anitbiotic and Analgesia Formulary for Rodents
Formularies for prophylactic antibiotics and analgesics for mice and rats.
Animal Reimbursement Policy
BWH CCM investigates all complaints of cage loss and considers reimbursement when there is compelling evidence of CCM errors. Request for reimbursement will only be considered when the following information is provided:
- Individual Cage ID number (CCXXXXXX or CCBXXXXXXX printed beneath the bar code)
- Precise Date of Loss
- Reported losses must be immediate. BWH will not investigate losses that occurred greater than 3 business days from the initial report
- Animal Source (order number or in-house breeding) and number
- Circumstances leading to loss (if applicable)
- Approximate value of loss
ASBL2 Standard Operating Procedures
Decontamination, handling, PPE, recordkeeping, and emergency contact information for dealing with ASBL2 tissues, animals, and substances.
Biologic Agents Used in Research Animals Policy
Investigators must certify that all biologic administered substances are free of contamination from excluded agents prior to their use in BWH research animals. Biologics include cell lines, primary rodent cells or fluids obtained for outside institutions, rodent derived antibodies, tumor lines from repositories (i.e. ATCC), and other implantable substrates that have been passaged in rodents.
Hazardous Agents SOP
This SOP for research, animal care, and cagewash staff addresses the proper use of toxic chemicals, biological agents[1], and radioactive materials administered via injection, oral gavage, drinking water, and/or food in rodents. Information regarding cage labeling, MSDS management, and other regulatory requirements regarding hazardous agents can also be found here. [1] Refer to BWH Tiered Toxic Agents list for applicable substances.
Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounds
Whenever pharmaceutical-grade compounds, including diluents and carries, are available, they must be used in animals, even in acute procedures. Specific scientific justification and IACUC review for use of non-pharmaceutical grade compounds is required for the use of non-pharmaceutical grade compounds.
Rodent and Rabbit Injection Guidelines
Information on recommended methods, volumes, locations, restraint, and tips for performing several basic injections on mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
Tiered Toxic Agent List
The BWH Hazardous Agent List differs from most in its organization into three hazard tiers. For a brief explanation of what the tiers mean and how to read the tiered list, click here.
Tribromoethanol Use Policy
The use of tribromoethanol (TBE, Avertin) is largely prohibited by the BWH IACUC, but can be used on a case-by-case basis with strong justification. Such justification must include valid reasons why other, safer anesthetics cannot be used, as well as obedience of the BWH IACUC Policy on the use of non-pharmaceutical grade agents (Download). Use of TBE is limited to protocols on which it is explicitly listed and can only be administered during a maximum of one survival surgery and/or one non-survival surgery while following all relevant SOPs (see below for compounding information).
Acclimation of USDA-Covered Species
PIs in the process of ordering or otherwise transporting animals must make certain concessions to ensure the least stressful transport process possible. This policy covers how to handle acclimation to new housing before and after surgery and in regards to food restriction, as well as how to get an exemption from the typical acclimation procedure.
Addition of New Transgenic Mice
This policy lays out how to add transgenics to a protocol and five conditions that necessitate an amendment when adding a new transgenic mouse strain, which are:
· A clinical phenotype requiring supportive care not already covered in the approved protocol
· Additional numbers of animals
· Use of transgenics that has not been previously described in the protocol
· Addition of a new procedure involving transgenics
· Production of a new transgenic animal
Also included are policies regarding cross-breeding transgenics and naturally arising genetic variations in inbred strains.
Animal Triage Policy
In the event of a disaster or emergency threatening animal welfare, CCM staff must be able to determine which animals/strains are irreplaceable so that these animals can be triaged during disaster efforts. This policy outlines the process for designating a cage of animals as irreplaceable so these animals are properly incorporated into the disaster plan.
Aquatic Animal Use
Researchers dealing with fish, aquatic, amphibian, and semiaquatic reptile species can use this policy as a starting point for ensuring compliance in their aquatics program. Necessary information for filling out a Program of Aquatic Animal Care, including procurement, healthcare, identification, handling, housing, enrichment, training, and emergency response for dealing with aquatic species is included.
Clinical and Experimental Humane Endpoints Guideline
Where pain or distress is a necessary part of the study, a humane endpoint must always be used, and a pilot study is recommended by the IACUC if moribundity or motality is expected in a novel study. This guideline also includes criteria for determination of a humane endpoint including Body Condition Scoring, evaluation of signs of moribundity, and response of animals to external stimuli.
Death as an Endpoint Guideline
Legal, regulatory, and moral guidelines require that animal pain and distress be minimized in any experiment, and studies that use death as an endpoint are strongly discouraged by the IACUC. This guideline covers the definitions of “Moribund” and “Morbid” in the context of research as well as acceptable and unacceptable justifications for a study using death as an endpoint.
Rodent Pain Categorization Guidelines
Proper categorization of pain to be experienced by animals over the course of a study is critical to minimizing such pain and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations. These guidelines offer examples of procedures that fall in each of the four research animal pain categories and can be used as a starting point for determining in which category you should list your animals.
USDA Pain Categorization Guidelines
Proper categorization of pain to be experienced by animals over the course of a study is critical to minimizing such pain and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations. These guidelines offer examples of procedures that fall in each of the four research animal pain categories and can be used as a starting point for determining in which category you should list your animals.
Blood Collection
Routine blood collection should be performed according to the formula: Blood volume (Liters) = Body weight (kg)*0.07, with adjustments to the equation for obese animals. Details for determining body weight and (therefore blood volume) are also herein.
Mouse Genotyping Guideline
When genotyping mice, investigators are encouraged to conduct tail biopsy prior to 21 days or consider other alternatives such as ear punch or hair pluck (both suitable tissues for commercial genotyping kits). Should the need arise to genotype a mouse older than 21 days, anesthesia and analgesia are required by the IACUC. Alternatives to tail snip such as ear notching, hair plucking, blood sampling, fecal pellet collection, and buccal swab/oral wash are recommended over tail snip in animals greater than 21 days old.
Phlebotomy Methods Guideline
This Guideline covers how to select a blood collection method based on study needs and a detailed explanation of the pros and cons of tail vein, retro orbital, saphenous, and submandibular blood collection in mice and rats.
Analgesia Formulary for Rodents
Formulary examples of analgesic for mouse, guinea pig, or rat.
Anesthesia Techniques for Rodents
All readily allowable anesthesia formularies and methods for rodents.
Carbon Dioxide Euthanasia
CCM investigators must use the Euthanex SmartBox® or Euthanex Lab Control Units® when euthanizing rodents using CO2. This SOP applies to investigators not using these devices and includes necessary information for ethical and safe CO2 euthanasia.