Department of Animal Models for Biomedical Research – DAMBR
ABOUT DAMBR
Hellenic Pasteur Institute, since its foundation, maintains laboratory animals that are used for research purposes in regard to Public Health Protection.
Today, the Department of Animals Models for Biomedical Research (DAMBR) operates in compliance to national and international recommendations and laws in order to cover modern research needs that are required for research excellence.
DAMBR’s aims are the breeding, distribution and use of laboratory animals that are used for modeling human pathologies and for development of cutting-edge technologies in academic and research areas, for toxicological studies and for preclinical studies in pharmaceutical industry, and for education.
REGULATIONS and LEGISLATION
The Regulatory Guide of DAMBR , the Protocols Evaluation Committee, the Animals Welfare Body, the well-trained and experienced personnel and the organization of training are the cornerstones of DAMBR’s functions.
Approved establishments based on GG 56/2013 (A.Π. 1528/27-03-2014) from Official Veterinary Authorities
UNITS
DRAMB is consisted from
Conventional area: Quarantine, Rabbits, Guinea pigs and
Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) area: Breeding Unit, Distribution Unit, Experimentation Unit
SERVICES
The following services are offered:
- Breeding, distribution and use of classic and transgenic strains of mice and rats, guinea pigs
- Maintenance of rabbits
- Housing of laboratory animals
- Handling of immunodeficient mice
- Veterinary care
- Substances administration (intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intramuscular(i.m.), subcutaneous(s.c.), per os,
- Blood, serum, plasma, tissues collection
- Anesthesia and analgesia
- Preclinical studies in animal models
- Toxicological studies
- Generation of complex transgenic mouse strains and maintenance of their colonies
- Consultancy
in collaboration with Transgenic Technology Laboratory are performed :
- Embryo Transfers and Rederivation
- Cryopreservation of embryos and sperm and biobanking of germ cells
- Vasectomized males and pseudopregnant recipient females for transgenesis protocols
- DAMBR collaborates with other research groups and infrastructures and with Diagnosis and Vaccines Quality Control Department of HPI.
In the Facilities, HPI researchers run experimental protocols using laboratory animals for modeling human diseases. They possess highly specialized know-how related to infectious diseases, cancer induction, autoimmune experimental encephalomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, ischemia, temporary (tMCAO) or permanent (pMCAO) occlusion of the middle cerebral artery or carotid, brain and spinal cord trauma, ex vivo transplantation, agents administration by stereotactic injection into the brain and spinal cord, behavioral studies, tissue collection for the preparation of frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues.
Each specialized work is carried out under the core responsibility of scientific research laboratories of HPI.
EDUCATION
Annual Institutional training courses
2016
«Introduction to Laboratory Animals Science», 25-26 May.
2014
«Laboratory Animals: change of paradigm», 30 May.
2013
«Laboratory Animals as tools of translational research», 26 April.
2012
«Laboratory Animals and daily research practices», 14 December.
International training courses
2017
2015
Organization LAS _RIIP «Laboratory Animals in Biomedical Research: Τheory and Practice», 8-25 May 2015.
Personnel professional development and training by participating in international training course
2017
The implementation of the 3R’s in the experimental design, Guido Bernadini, Fondatione (FGB), 23-24 November.
2016
2nd LAS-EU functions course, University of Athens, KAT Hospital, 12-21 September, Athens.
FELASA to train Designated Veterinarians (FELASA Category D), LabVet, University of Copenhagen.
2015
Introduction to Laboratory Animal Science (FELASA cat. C accredited), EMBL, 13-24 April, Monterotondo.
1st LAS-EU functions course, University of Athens, KAT Hospital, 9-17 November, Athens.
2014
Workshop on Surgical Techniques in the Laboratory Mouse, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), The Jackson Laboratory, 24-27 June, Paris.
Course on Cryopreservation of mouse germplasm, 20 – 24 October Monterotondo, Italy.
The implementation of EU Education and Training Framework under Directive 2010/63/EU, Fondazione Guido Bernadini, 30–31 October, Varese, Italy
2013
Laboratory Animal Necropsy and Sample Collection”, 5-hours practical course, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Division of Laboratory Animal Facilities, 12 November.
“The emerging field of microbiota and the effects on animal models”, Fondazione Guido Bernadini, Buguggiate, 21-22 November
2012
«Handling and techniques of small animal models», Institute of Experimental
Surgery Center of Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens, 12–14 December
Introductory Course in Animal Science (FELASA cat. B accredited). University of Zürich, 27-31 August.
AWARDS
- S. Haralambous, Regular member of National Welfare Committee of animals used for research purposes, ΦΕΚ 2917/13-09-2016
- E. Fragkiadaki, Steering committee member of Education and Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science (ETPLAS)
- Ε. Fragkiadaki, Basel Declaration Award for Education 2012 and SGV grant
DISSEMINATION
2016
Our experience as LAS course providers. E. Fragkiadaki, N. Kavrochorianou, S. Haralambous. FELASA2016, 13-16 June, Brussels.
2015
Practices change in the use of laboratory animals in translational biomedical research, Invited speaker Ε. Fragkiadaki, F. Papastefanaki, S. Haralambous. 1st seminar of Postdoctoral and postgraduate students of HPI, 24 September, Athens.
2014
Training program and consolidation assessment of theoretical knowledge and practical skills as an in-house accreditation methodology for Good Laboratory Animal Use. E. Fragkiadaki, I. Grivas, N. Kavrohorianou, F. Badounas, M. Markogiannaki, D. Kazana, S. Haralambous. Joint HSBLAS/ESLAV/ECLAM Meeting, 22-23 September, Athens, Greece.
Practical welfare-based management of a rabbit model for Myasthenia gravis. K. Lazaridis, I. Dalianoudis, S. Tzartos, N. Trakas, A. Vagionas, N. Vlachogiannis, A. Karles, A. Lappa, E. Fragkiadaki. Joint HSBLAS/ESLAV/ECLAM Meeting, 22-23 September, Athens, Greece.
Three years of action for Basel Declaration Society. E. Fragkiadaki, S. Haralambous. Joint HSBLAS/ESLAV/ECLAM Meeting 2014, 22-23 September, Athens, Greece
Pictures from cases reports of naïve laboratory rodents. E. Fragkiadaki. Joint HSBLAS/ESLAV/ECLAM Meeting 2014, 22-23 September, Athens, Greece.
2013
The Basel Declaration Award presentation». Invited speaker, E. Fragkiadaki. Transparency in animal research: implementing openness in publication and communication, 1-2 July, London, UK.
LINKS
- Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Rural Development and Food
- European Commission, Animals used for scientific purposes
- Hellenic Society of Biomedical and Laboratory Animals Science
- International Council for Laboratory Animal Science
- Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations
- National Center for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of animals in research
- Basel Declaration Society
- National Welfare Committee of Animals used for Research Purposes
FUNDING
Grants
2016
Stavros Niarchos Foundation- Activity 4
Course Grant, International Pasteur Institutes Network
TT-RIIP training course entitled «TRANSGENIC TECHNOLOGIES in MODELING HUMAN DISEASES: Principles, Associated Technologies, Animal Management and Ethics », 5-13 June 2017.
2014
Course Grant, International Pasteur Institutes Network
LAS _RIIP training course entitled «Laboratory Animals in Biomedical Research: Τheory and Practice», 8-25 May 2015.
Sponsors
International Pasteur Institutes Network
International Society for transgenic Technologies
Envigo
Techniplast
Muccedola
Association of Friends of Hellenic Pasteur Institute
Aναλυτικές Συσκευές
Inflammation Research Group
Laboratory animals equipment by Mr. Panayotis Ilias
PERSONNEL
