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Laboratory Animal Resource Unit
The Early Days
The use of laboratory animals in the IMR could be traced back to as early as 1940's where these animals were used for diagnosis as well as research of such diseases as yellow fever, scrub typhus and rabies.
The division, which was originally known as the Division of Animal House, had its beginning when a wooden rectangular building was erected behind the Division of Entomology. Over the years to cater for the increase in demand for the animals, six more of the wooden buildings were constructed.
The management of the animals also improved with time. The Polypropylene rodent cages were fitted with food hoppers and water bottles. These cages made for easy cleaning were helpful in the control of infectious diseases. Pelleted food imported from the United States, was introduced as the dies of choice to replace the old formulation. Before the introduction of commercial pellets, food consisting of padi, sweet potato, oats,groundnuts and beans had to be prepared daily. This made feeding tedious and time consuming. With the introduction of pelleted diet, time taken to feed the animals was decreased tremendously and the nutrients attained by the animals were more consistent and well balanced. Stock colonies were also changed and these were mainly imported from the Unite States.
In 1976, under the Second Malaysia Plan, a new building was constructed to better house and manage the laboratory animals. This building consisted of four floors with twenty-six animal rooms, forty-three experimental rooms, two surgical suites, a radiology section, quarantine facilities, laboratories as well as central washing and storage area.
The Division Today
Since 1976, many changes have been made to the division to increase efficiency and productivity as well as to cater for the demand of the researchers in the institute as well as those in the various agencies under the Ministry of Health
The Future
For the new millennium, the division is strengthening the management of laboratory animals to cater to the rising expectations in the quality of animals used in research. The division also plan to strengthen its capabilities in various aspects of in vivo techniques such as pathology and to play a bigger role in research as part of the activities undertaken in the division
OBJECTIVES
- Supplying quality laboratory animal for Research and Diagnostic
- Providing veterinary technical services and consultation to animal laboratory user
- To carry out quality biomedical research
- To organize training on management and proper usage of laboratory animal
LINKS
- Laboratory Animal Science Association of Malaysia (LASAM)
- Laboratory Animal Resource Unit, Fakulti Perubatan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Laboratory Animal Resource Unit, Medical Faculty, University Malay
- Laboratory Animal Resource Unit, University Science Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan
- Veterinary Research Institution, Ipoh, Perak
- Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor
- Others
SERVICES
1. Supply of animal
The unit continues to breed and supply animals for use to researchers in the institute as well as those in the universities and other government agencies. Laboratory animal available in the Animal Resource Unit:
a) Mice – ICR mice, Balb/c, CBA/ca
b) Rat – Sprague - Dawley
c) Hamster – Golden hamster
d) Guinea pig – Duncan Hartley
e) Rabbit – New Zealand White
f) Non human Primate – Macaca fascicularis
g) Immunodeficient mice – Nude mice, Diabetic mice , SCID mice
2. Technical Support
The unit also continues to give technical support in terms of assistance in taking blood, treatment of animals as well as post mortem
3. Surgical skills laboratory
The unit continues to provide technical support to various surgical workshops undertaken in this laboratory
TRAINING
Training pertaining to the laboratory animals is continuously being given to the IMR staff, government agencies, college students. This training is being conducted in the form of workshops, courses and individual attachments.
ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (ACUC)
This committee was set up in 1985 to ensure that research that uses animals as the study models, are carried out humanely. During the first few years of its formation, the committee held many meetings to formulate guidelines as well as principles to serve as a reference for researchers. The committee consists of veterinarians, medical officers as well as research officer from the institute as well as local Universities. The division serves as the secretariat for this committee. All projects that request the use of animals from the Division must first obtain approval before the animals can be supplied to them
Balb/c Mice
CBA/ca Mice
Guinea Pigs
Sprague Dowley Rat
ICR Mice
New Zealand White Rabbit
Hamster
Nude Mice
Borang Permohonan Bekalan Haiwan
