The Animal Care Facility
(ACF) is one of the essential units of support
and service to the biomedical research at
Jackson State University. Its long term goal is
to develop a state-of-the-art infrastructure as
well as to provide technical and logistic
support to RCMI investigators and other JSU
faculty and students to conduct a high quality
of animal research, in compliance with the
guidelines and policies set for by accrediting
and regulatory agencies, especially as they
relate to IACUC protocol development, animal
husbandry, food and water supply, veterinary
care, quarantine and euthanasia, sanitation
procedures, environmental monitoring, and record
keeping. ACF provides accommodation for
long-term storage of animals and maintains them
in accordance with and in compliance with the
PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Act,
as described in the 2002 Guide for the Care and
Use of Laboratory Animals.
Specific Aims
The specific aims of the Animal Care Facility are:
To improve the quality of rodent research (Mice and Rats) / animal research for JSU researchers
by integrating recourses to develop the animal care facility into state of the art grade in order to accommodate the current and future needs for biomedical, biological,
neurological and environmental health research.by offering
equipment access, expert advice,
demonstration of techniques, operation of
equipment, participation in discussion and
data interpretation, and hands-on-training
in molecular biology and cell culture;
To enable JSU to ensure and continue to be in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 2002, the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Act.
To improve management, veterinary care, diagnosis, surgery and necropsy services, and provide a quality assurance and laboratory testing programs for microbiological monitoring and susceptibility testing to meet the current standards for safety, quality and efficiency.
To instate and enforce a rigorous training program in the care and use, protocol implementation, compliance with the Guide, and occupational health through workshops and formal training for researchers and all unit staff.
Resources and Environment
The
ACF is located in the John A. Peoples (JAP)
Building. The current
resources in facility include:
Large-scale
cage washer
Large size
-20 C freezer
Humidity and
temperature control equipment
Various
regular racks and cages for rats and mice
Special
metabolic cages
A
ventilation system
Food and
water dispensers
Food and bedding storage and a general
storage area
