Laboratory Animal Facility

The mission of the Research Laboratory Animal Facility (LAF) at the Fox Chase Cancer Center is to provide Veterinary, Diagnostic and Regulatory Support for the biomedical research community of the Center. This Institution has established and maintains a program for activities involving rodents according to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide). The Fox Chase Cancer Center animal care and use program has been fully accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) since 1969.

The LAF has been in existence since 1948 and is one of the original support services for the Fox Chase Cancer Center.  The centrally organized and administered LAF focuses on support of rodent models, and currently has a staff of 17. It is responsible for the procurement, care, breeding and health monitoring of all rodents used in the various Research Programs of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, supporting studies in immunology, developmental biology, virology, cancer prevention, and cancer therapeutic development. The staff members are experts in the husbandry and health care of the rodent species including genetically modified mouse models and immunodeficient rodents.   

The LAF is recognized for its contributions to and understanding of genetic modification and cellular differentiation. Most notable was the discovery of the SCID mouse (severe combined immunodeficiency) in 1983 by Dr. Melvin and Gayle Bosma, as well as the contributions of Dr. Beatrice Mintz, who was a pioneer of genetic engineering techniques and was among the first in research to generate both chimeric and transgenic mammals.

The four-floor LAF functions as a single integrated facility with seamless internal connections. These areas include a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) facility, as well as conventional facility. Outside of the main rodent facility are a small animal imaging facility, a quarantine facility, a facility for rederivation of mice by germfree caesarian rederivation, and an animal biosafety level 2 (BSL2) facility.

The Animal Health staff, with the oversight of the Attending Veterinarian, perform daily rounds and are responsible for the clinical veterinary care, preventative medicine and diagnostics of all rodents housed within the facility. The Facility Director, Sr. Manager and Attending Veterinarian consult and provide guidance to researchers in methods for their experimental models. All research performed in the animal facility has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). For some research protocols, additional review by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBS) is also required.