Animal Laboratory Facility
Prof. Dr. Kurt Reifenberg
The aim of the Animal Laboratory Facility is to provide an excellent service for our scientific staff. The technical personnel are well trained and competent in animal husbandry techniques and experimental procedures, and are there to assist you. We can help you with minor surgery such as (vasectomies, castration) injections of compounds by all recognised routes, tumour implantation and collection of tissue for further analysis. In addition, we can take over your breeding colonies and supply you with the specified number of mice you require for experimental purposes.
The animal facility personnel are divided into teams responsible for specific areas. In each team there is a Team Leader who organises the daily/weekly routine and training of the "Trainee" personnel.
As an integral part of the Core Facility we can with our partners in the following departments:-Microbiological Diagnostics, Animal Transgenic Service, Embryo Transfer Service and Cryo-preservation Service; co-ordinate the transfer of animals to the DKFZ from outside sources. Transfer specific mouse lines into the Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) barriers via embryo transfer; and subsequently freeze down specific mouse lines for long-term protection.
Purchase of animals from reputable companies is processed through our secretariat.
The species that we have in-house at present are: mice, rats, guinea pigs, mastomys and amphibian.
Our Animal Facility is divided into several areas and with various systems of maintenance such as:
- SPF Barriers
- Integrated Ventilated Cage (IVC) systems
- Isolators
As suggests it holds animals of various health categories. The health status of our colonies is closely monitored by our microbiology dept.
