The Animal Facility and Experimental Operations section has over 700 m2 of useful surface area designed for research and teaching. It is situated on the (-1) floor of the Biogipuzkoa HRI. It has three work areas: a barrier area, an experimental operations area and a stabling area. In those areas, the groups of animals are kept in conditions of high biological safety, with strictly controlled health and environmental parameters. Colonies of rabbits, rats, mice, and especially transgenic mouse models, are kept here.

The facility aims to be flexible and offer a solution to the problems facing the researchers, and was designed to be able to work with small, medium and large animals (mice, rats, rabbits and pigs), providing its users with technical advice regarding the test animals and their environment, and making sure existing legislation and regulations on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes are met.

To endorse the Biogipuzkoa HRI’s philosophy, we needed to go through the process of registering on the list of breeding centres, suppliers and users of test animals, having already been registered as an establishment that uses test animals (200690050419). We also obtained the notification of first use of premises to carry out contained use operations with genetically modified organisms (GMO) and the risk assessment of contained use operations with GMO for type I premises.

The Biogipuzkoa HRI animal facility provides support to the areas of research and teaching as regards the use of animals for those purposes, both for internal and external users.

Objetives

The Platform’s objectives are as follows:

  • To provide researchers with the general infrastructure to carry out experimental studies with animals.
  • To keep the animals used in experimental procedures in appropriate conditions of health and well-being, as well as providing the necessary care and accommodation.
  • To offer specialised advice on the design of experimental procedures, the choice of animal model, surgical techniques, etc.
  • To offer support in the performance of different experimental techniques.
  • To safeguard the animals’ well-being and to ensure the experimental design is in line with existing regulations and guidelines.
  • To ensure compliance with existing regulations on the protection of animals used for experimental purposes.
  • To watch over and support the most suitable preparation and training of experimenters/researchers.
  • To study, research and develop animal models.

 

Functions

a. Animal care
b. Euthanasia
c. Performance of procedures
d. Design of projects and procedures
e. Animal welfare and care supervisor
f. Designed veterinarian

Services

Rates

Service Request Form