Q2 Prof. Dr. Tolba
Central Animal Resource Project

Project Q2 ensures and provides a standardized framework to perform projects using laboratory animals within SFB/TRR57. Q2 initiates and organizes the exchange across locations of animal models. New techniques such as generation and cryopreservation of genetically modified animals (GMA) are implemented and provided to the SFB/TRRR57 members.

Q2 ensures and provides a standardized framework to perform projects using laboratory animals within SFB/TRR57.

Premise of all projects using laboratory animals is a basic service referring to the German Animal Welfare act and the European Directive 2010/63. To ensure high quality standards, the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science has implemented a quality management (QM) system. The QM system is certified according to DIN ISO 9001/2008 and undergoes 2 day audits on an annual base. Using Standard operation Procedures (SOP) in all areas of animal husbandry and the generation of GMOs, high standards of support and quality can be offered to SFB/TRR57 scientists.

With respect to the increasing demand for the husbandry of rodents, Q2 adopts its capacities according to the needs of SFB/TRR57 scientist and provides more holding capacity for newly integrated groups. To satisfy the needs for high standards, especially with regard to specific pathogen free (spf) hygienic conditions, only high quality devices are installed.

Changes of the general legal conditions of animal experimentation (new animal welfare act in 2013, EU Directive 2010/63, “Verbandsklagerecht-NRW”), the demand for regular levels of training and continued professional education of persons using animal experiments/models are ensured within this project. Therefore Q2 has implemented courses in German and English (FELASA B), lectures and tutorials to write animal proposals in as well as hands-on courses/trainings.

During the last year, the pace and quality of generation of GMOs massively speeded up and became more efficient and specific by means of so called “site specific nucleases” (ZFN, TALENs and CRISPR). Q2 reacts to this development and, with its Transgenic Service, provides a platform for the exploration of these techniques by SFB/TRR57 members.

Consequent cryo conservation of mouse lines saves money and capacities. Q2 has implemented a reliable technique of mouse sperm freezing and offers this approach as a cheap and safe alternative to embryo cryo conservation of murine models.

According to the 3R principle (Replacement, Reducement, Refinement of animal experiments), we have the obligation to implement this in Laboratory Animal Science. Therefore non-invasive imaging has become a very important player in the biomedical community. Q2 offers several modalities, like fluorescence and bioluminescence as well as X-Ray imaging. Furthermore, it is possible to use the IZKF 2 photon facility, providing measuring time at two state of the art microscopes.

Publications