Fields of Research

The Laboratory Animal Facilities of the Center for Experimental Surgery of IIBEAA are located in the basement of one of the buildings of the BRFAA campus and has an area of 1.800 m2.

The main tasks of the Facilities are:

1. Breeding and housing of transgenic animals
2. Breeding and housing of convention animals
3. Preparation of animals for experimentation
4. Pre- and Post- surgical veterinary care of the animals
5. Continuous monitoring, and improvement of animals in micro- and macro – environment
6. Technical advise and veterinary support to scientists during the design of experiments
7. Education and training of scientists and technical staff on the correct use of laboratory animals
    

The Housing capacity of the facilities is:

• 20.000 transgenic mice
• 1.000 conventional mice or equal number of rats
• 70 rabbits
• 20 pigs

All animals are housed in accordance to the European Legal framework that exists for the Protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (European Convention 123/Council of Europe and Directive 86/609/EEC) as well as the current Guidelines of International Organizations such as the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International-AAALAC Int., and the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations-FELASA).

Transgenic mice are housed under SPF conditions, in Individual Ventilated Cages.
All the electromechanical equipment of the facility is monitored by a Building Managing System (BMS) 24 hours per day.

The Animal Facilities implement a complete veterinary medical care programme which includes preventive medicine, surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases as well as veterinary care of the animals used in experimental protocols. A health monitoring program is also in force, in accordance to the Guidelines issued by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations.

The facilities are registered by the Official Veterinary Service of the Prefecture of Athens as Breeding, Supplying and Experimental Establishment in accordance to the National Legislation (Presidential Decree 160/91 in harmonization to the European Directive 86/609/EEC), under the Code Numbers EL 25 BIO 001, EL 25 BIO 002, EL 25 BIO 003, respectively.