The ADA Forsyth Institute’s Core Facilities and Services provides specialized equipment, training and expertise on a fee-for-service basis to researchers from external institutions. AFI’s state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technologies, and experienced core managers can accommodate your project needs.
The ADA Forsyth Institute’s Animal Resources Core Facility supports the Institute’s mission of performing cutting-edge pre-clinical research in oral and craniofacial biology. The facility has been in operation since the mid 1960s, when it housed one of the earliest germ-free rodent housing systems. The ADA Forsyth Animal Facility supports the Institute’s work on the forefront of work on the human microbiome, as well as research efforts in oral immunology and mineralized tissue biology.
The 4,300-sq ft facility allows access only to authorized users. It includes airlock entries with IACUC-approved badge access only. The facility houses mainly rodents (mice & rats) in their dedicated animal holding rooms with attached procedure rooms. All personnel is required to wear PPE: lab coat, gloves, hair cover, shoe cover and face mask provided by the facility.
The animal program is overseen by the Forsyth IACUC, which performs protocol approval and program oversight for both internal and external projects. The IACUC meets six times per year. Contact us at IACUC@forsyth.org. ADA Forsyth endorses the use of the ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research.
Services
Housing and husbandry of mice and rats:
- Cage changing
- Feeding and watering
- Enrichment and daily care
- Surgical rooms
- Holding rooms
- Procedure rooms
Health surveillance and diagnostic services
Basic lab equipment
- Biosafety cabinets
- Microscopes
- Weighing scales and other equipment
Specialized equipment
- Surgical microscope
- Germ-free facility
- IVIS and CellVizio imaging units
- Germ-free facility
Additional Information
The rodents are maintained under SPF conditions, and a sentinel program is in place for health surveillance, as well as a quarantine program for imports of mice from external institutes. Each holding room is equipped with a biosafety cabinet for cage changing and handling of mice/rats. Our rodents are housed in single-used sterile Innovive disposable IVC cages, kept in the latest Innorack IVC mouse rack, a top-of-the-line ventilated rodent housing system designed to offer dual HEPA-filtered ventilation, set in positive airflow mode of operation. Other rooms include dedicated procedure room for: Surgery, Necropsy/Perfusion and Minor Procedures, and an imaging room equipped with the IVIS and Cell Visio Imaging units. The facility has been fully accredited by AAALAC since 1977, is registered with USDA and maintains an assurance with PHS. The facility complies with all USDA and OLAW requirements.
