Research Animal Management Branch
- Joseph M. Schech, DVM, Head, Research Animal Management Branch
- Ruth A. Woodward, DVM, Deputy Animal Program Director; Facility Veterinarian, NIHAC Shared Animal Facility
- Tannia S. Clark, DVM, Facility Veterinarian, 6B Shared Animal Facility/6 Shared ZF Facility
- Daniel T. Abebe, MS, Research Technician
- Julie A. Jacobs, Facility Manager, NIHAC Shared Animal Facility
- Christopher M. Rishell, BS, Facility Manager, 6B Shared Animal Facility
- Lauren Pandolfo, MS, Aquatics Facility Manager
- Klara Post, MS, Animal Care and Use Committee Coordinator
The Research Animal Medicine Branch (RAMB) is responsible for directing the program of laboratory animal care and use for NICHD’s Division of Intramural Research (DIR). The program includes animal facilities managed by NICHD as the lead institute, NICHD animals housed in other facilities, and all activities involving animals owned by the NICHD DIR. The Branch’s activities include the following: (1) providing primary veterinary care; (2) advising the NICHD Scientific Director on animal care and use practices; (3) insuring that animal use within DIR is in accordance with applicable regulatory standards; (4) coordinating intramural animal use, including appropriate animal model selection, support requirements, and Animal Study Proposal review; (5) advising scientific staff on comparative medicine, Animal Study Proposal design, disease interference, and on other factors that may complicate or invalidate research results; (6) implementing and coordinating animal health monitoring; (7) coordinating quarantine for incoming animals of unknown health status to prevent the introduction of agents pathogenic to humans or animals; (8) coordinating a central animal ordering program for the NICHD; (9) providing administrative management of the NICHD Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC); and (10) interfacing with organizations and institutions concerned with the ethical and humane care and use of animals in research.
RAMB supports animal use research in the NICHD Division of Intramural Research.
The RAMB operates and manages the Building 6B Shared Animal Facility (SAF), the NIH Animal Center (NIHAC) SAF, Suite 6C127 of the Ambulatory Care Research Facility (ACRF) Animal Facility, and the NICHD aquatics facilities. The DIR Animal Program and ACUC have oversight over these facilities with regard to animal use as well as over NICHD and NIA (National Institute on Aging) animals in the Porter Neurosciences Research Center (PNRC) SAF and in the Building 10A Central Animal Facility (CAF). The RAMB has contractual oversight over an aquatic animal husbandry task that includes husbandry and research support for NICHD, NHGRI, NHLBI, and NCI.
The Building 6B SAF supports the animal research activities of three Institutes (NICHD, NEI, and NIAMS) in a restricted-access, disease-free rodent facility; it also includes a room for Xenopus.
The NIHAC SAF supports the animal research activities of the NICHD. This facility houses nonhuman primates. Animal holding areas include indoor housing and indoor/outdoor runs.
Suite 6C127 of the ACRF Animal Facility supports the animal research activities of the NICHD. The facility occupies 121 m 2 (1,299 ft2) in Building 10 and has five animal rooms and two procedure rooms and provides care and housing for rodent and aquatic species. It is a restricted-access, conventional facility and is operated under contract.
The Building 6 Shared Zebrafish Facility (SZF) supports NICHD and NHGRI with 15,000 2-liter tanks; the total capacity of the SZF is approximately 330,000 zebrafish.
As part of the NIH, the RAMB participates in the formulation of policies and procedures that impact the care and use of laboratory animals throughout the country. In 2011, the RAMB led the effort for triennial re-certification by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Care, International (AAALACi). The RAMB and various animal-user investigators have been active contributors to the NIH Animal Research Advisory Committee’s (ARAC) efforts to adopt the new “Guide to Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,” which is a primary-source set of guidelines used by the AAALACi and the NIH Office of Animal Welfare.
Additional Funding
- In addition to direct funding by the Intramural Research Programs of NICHD, the RAMB is also funded by facility users from other NIH Institutes and Centers.
Publications
- Okada M, Miller T, Roediger J, Shi Y, Schech J. An efficient, simple and noninvasive procedure for genotyping aquatic and nonaquatic laboratory animals. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2017;56(5):570-573.
Contact
For more information, email schechj@mail.nih.gov or visit http://www.animalcare.nichd.nih.gov.
