Animal Production Program
Announcement
The National Cancer Institute Animal Production Program is administered by the Biological
Testing Branch. Rodents are supplied to Federal Institutions and to grantees/contractors
with a current OLAW Assurance on file. Requests from international entities seeking
rodent strains solely available from the NCI Animal Production Program must have
an OLAW Assurance or current AAALACi accreditation and will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis. In general, the rodents are supplied to the following:
- Researchers at the Frederick National Lab
- NIH on-campus laboratories
- NIH/NCI funded research contracts
- NIH/NCI funded grantees
- Other government agencies
To meet the above needs, animal production contracts plus quality control contracts
are used. The animal production contracts are used to propagate the NIH sublines
of the strains. Many of the strains produced are not available commercially and
the NCI program is the sole source of several lines. Click here for
ordering and pricing information.
Health Monitoring
Health monitoring on the NCI Animal Production Program rodents colonies is performed
by the contractor, Charles River Labs, and by the University of Missouri. Animals
are submitted monthly from each barrier room and twice a year from each isolator.
Results from Charles River Labs and from the University of Missouri are posted on
the Charles River Labs website and maintained for 18 months.
Any potentially pathogenic results will be relayed to the customers by fax, phone
or e-mail within 24 hours of confirmation.
Genetic Monitoring
Genetic monitoring is performed by the University of Missouri. Profiles for each
inbred strain were developed from NCI Foundations Colonies in 2008 by the University
of Missouri. Embryos were frozen from these colonies and will be reconstituted as
necessary to correct any genetic drift that may be found in the breeding colonies.
All breeders in the barrier foundation colonies are screened using DNA- based testing
methods. Any animals that deviate from the accepted profiles are removed from the
colony.
Policy and Procedure for Obtaining Cryopreserved Strains and Stocks
- 2 vials of frozen embryos will be shipped per inbred strain or outbred stock breeding
unit. Vials will be shipped in liquid nitrogen dry shippers either provided by the
requestor or by NCI. The requestor will be responsible for all shipping charges.
- If the receiving institute/company is unable to recovery the embryos and obtain
live animals from the 2 vials supplied then the requested strain/stock will be recovered
at the Frederick campus and live animals will be shipped. The requestor will be responsible
for the cost of recovery, testing, animal holding and shipping.
- Send a written request on letterhead to the below address. The request must include
a contact name and address, a delivery address and a billing address.
Linda Blumenauer
Frederick National Lab
Biological Testing Branch
Building 1021, Room 5
Frederick, MD 21702
Phone 301-846-1153
Fax 301-846-1694
blumenal@mail.nih.gov
NCI Animal Program Health Reporting
Contractors