The Laboratory
Animal Sciences Program (LASP) of the Frederick National Laboratory operates a
Gnotobiotic Facility (GF) to support research focused on the role of microbiota
in cancer inflammation, pathogenesis, and treatment response.
The animal
research support team that staffs the GF can rederive mice into germ-free
status, expand colonies of axenic and gnotobiotic mice and maintain
microbiome-defined lines of animals. This team has extensive experience working
with animal models in basic and translational research, particularly in the
fields of immunology and cancer research.
The GF
facilitates research projects by working closely with investigators throughout
all stages of the project; providing assistance with animal study proposals,
coordinating and scheduling experimental studies, implementing and carrying out
all experimental aspects of studies, providing regular progress reports, and
delivering detailed results. The GF collaborates closely with other LASP facilities
such as Animal Diagnostics, Small Animal Imaging, Histology, and Pathology to
coordinate workflows and services.
Capabilities:
Flexible Film Isolator and Biocontainment Rack Housing
Germ-free strain rederivation and colony expansion
Characterization of germ-free mouse models
Disease induction via various routes
Administration of investigational compounds via various routes
Evaluation of anticancer therapeutics
Microbial or fecal transplant association studies
Compound formulation and administration
Tissue and specimen collection in all phases of the study
Assessment of immunologic and metabolic function during disease progression