MouseCare is your facility design and planning solution

With over 30 years of experience, we have a unique identity, skills set, and reputation within the Laboratory Animal Science industry. Our expertise spans from animal care and veterinary science; experimental design and research; architectural and engineering concept; as well as regulatory compliance and energy-efficient implementation. MouseCare has a proven method of developing new ideas, solving problems, and making innovations. It is called MHOP, Mouse Housing Optimization Program.

By applying our methodology, our clients acquire green architectural, engineering, and husbandry controls that meet their mouse facility and research needs. We combine this with our knowledge of emerging technologies in mouse facility planning and equipment applications.

We offer proven and cost-effective solutions that address issues relating to Productivity, Density, Flexibility, Safety, and Valid Data Production. MouseCare professionals consult in design, planning, and cost-effective management of mouse facilities to ensure the best practices of humane care and use of mice, while providing optimal and stable environmental conditions to the mice and care facility staff.

We specialize in the development of new care facilities and projects that expand, remodel, renovate, or alter existing facilities. Through our proven methodologies, we work with clients to improve the health, welfare, and productivity of mice and care facility staff, and to increase the flexibility, ease of operation, and cost-efficiency of research, testing, and education programs.

Mouse Housing Optimization Program

MouseCare serves the needs of biomedical research and testing institutions. We provide consulting services to address all aspects of mouse facility design, upgrade, and operation. Additionally, MouseCare also provides custom breeding and maintenance services for investigator-supplied mouse lines.

Comprehensive Consulting

MouseCare consultants can assist institutions to accomplish agenda and timetables in four interrelated areas:

1) Institutional Policies and Responsibilities:

- direct the day-to-day operations of animal facilities including veterinary care program, OHSA, biosafety, security, husbandry, welfare office or IACUC, and public relations
- process AAALAC, PHS/DHHS, and USDA/APHIS regulations, policies, and principles

- improve animal care and use program, provide Occupational Health and Safety assurance

- implement education, training, and guidance of care and use personnel

- review IACUC protocols and provide assistance with their development

- enable scientists to achieve milestones, built effective teams, attract and retain key talent

- serve on IACUC, conduct routine a) site visits of facilities, b) audits of animal research studies

- support or carry out research, testing, and educational programs

- publish S.O.P.s, scientific/technical publications, and grant applications

- reach out for internal and external potential users of LAR services

- execute employment search and hiring process

- work on committees, conferences, conventions, and meetings

- achieve flexibility, productivity, and profitability

2) Animal Environment, Housing, and Management:

- refine husbandry programs that include enrichment programs
- manage mouse colonies
- expand animal population density while preventing cross-contamination
- improve experimental data/information quality

3) Veterinary Medical Care:

- maintain animal health surveillance programs,
- provide health monitoring, clinical oversight, diagnosis, and treatment
- support research activities, including anesthesia, surgery, and workshop

4) Physical Plant:

- facilities management

- design, plan, upgrade animal facilities including HVAC system and implementation of the 3Rs

- develop integrated animal facility design and planning strategy

- recommend and purchase/sell new or used equipment (fixed and movable)


Optimization Program

Why MHOP?

Most biomedical research facilities experience increases of 20% on average and up to 300% in mouse populations. Along with that mouse population expansion, a large variety of rodent models is currently used in research to improve human health and well-being. Institutions are responsible to provide adequate space appropriate to the species to facilitating the execution of outstanding science and to prevent contamination. Also, institutions are liable in case of preventable physical injuries or health hazards such as lab animal allergies mentioned in DHHS (NIOSH) Publication*. Energy/Cost-effective methods and equipment to provide adequate housing space with appropriate husbandry practices and to facilitate research in controlled environment are needed for rodent models.

Facility management must maximize space usage while enhancing care of mice and facilitating biomedical research, testing, and education for the production of valid data. MHOP is the missing link toward controlling a triangular interplay of genetic, health, and environmental factors by providing optimal and stable environmental conditions, thus eliminating variables at cage level.

*DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No.97-116 titled: Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers: Employers of animal handlers should take steps to protect workers from exposure to animal and animal products (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/animalrt.html).
MHOP Provides Solutions

MHOP provides safe, and energy-/cost-effective solutions to:

- Optimize space while avoiding costly upgrades and labor burden,

- Comply to OPRR, AAALAC, USDA, FDA, OHSA, Labs21 Program, Kyoto Protocol Standards,

- Control contaminants at their source of production before they disperse in the environment,

- Implement the concept of the 3Rs (Refinement-Reduction-Replacement),

- Provide for the health, well-being, and welfare of the animals and their users

- Facilitate biomedical research, testing, and education

- Standardize the cage environment as to minimize experimental variables

- Operate facility with high performance standards while containing costs, and,

- Meet current and future needs, i.e. flexibility

MHOP Delivers

MouseCare's Mouse Housing Optimization Program (MHOP) can provide space, time, and savings as well as maximize efficiency within your animal care & use program.

- Obtain higher rodent population density with better health and welfare is critical for your facility

- Gain control over species-specific, optimal, and stable environmental conditions

- Meet institution/biosafety requirements that are evolving toward higher performance standards

- Achieve high levels of standardization, safety, with the flexibility to evolve

- Provide adequate housing quickly

- Bring efficiency to large projects

- Achieve lower costs and lower per diem rates

MHOP Provides: Safer, Cheaper, Greener, and Better CAGING for your mice



Custom Breeding Program

Investigator-Supplied Mice: Housing, Expansion, and Delivery

MouseCare's custom breeding services provide cost-effective alternative to on-site breeding. With over 29 years of expertise in breeding and maintenance, MouseCare can house and expand your mouse colonies in our state of the art facilities, located in Ithaca, New York. We provide a healthy, contamination free environment for your mice and deliver them to your lab on a schedule defined by you.

To learn more about Custom Breeding Service, contact a breeding specialist today.