University of Miami Tissue Bank
Tissue Sharing/Harvesting Program
One mission of the ACUC is to fulfill the tenets of the 3R's (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement); by minimizing the number of animals being used and by maximizing the usage of each animal in research we are in compliance. A number of normal, healthy rodents are being generated from breeding colonies which are not of use to the investigator and this number will increase with initiation of new transgenic lines. In addition, ex-breeders and rat mothers where pups are used for tissue culture are also going unused. The DVR is aware of only a percentage of these animals as identified by "sac" requests. The ACUC needs to estimate the total number of such animals and to determine if other investigators could use such animals. At present, for animal health reasons, these unused animals can be made available for a "tissues only" protocols. Also, the ACUC would like to determine if there is a demand for live animal studies.
Secondly, the ACUC would like to identify those investigators using larger animals who could make tissues available and those investigators who could use such tissues even on a one-time basis. This tissue sharing is not intended to supercede existing arrangements between investigators but to facilitate new relationships.
The ACUC requests your indulgence in submitting information that may be useful to UM Investigators who might be able to make use of animal tissues from your laboratory. We would appreciate it if all PI's would fill out the Donor and Recipient Survey Form and return by e-mail to the ACUC. Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Please contact the University of Miami ACUC Office if you have any questions about this program.