Advice on designing imaging studies

The PIP’s staff provide users with scientific and technical advice on designing, planning and choosing the most useful imaging tools, for conducting various research projects.

Image acquisition and analysis

The PIP can offer both a self-service and a comprehensive service, which includes acquiring image studies and analysing data, together with interpreting results. Either of the two types of service can be requested, provided that users comply with the necessary legal requirements for accreditation, so they can handle experimentation animals.

Post-processing studies

The comprehensive service includes the possibility of producing representative images and videos of the studies conducted, as well as three-dimensional reconstructions of these and other very useful figures in scientific publications and public presentations.

Animal accommodation

• Species: rodents during the course of the experimental process in strict conventional conditions, and rodents in SPF conditions too.
• Purchase management: importing and exporting.
• Development of special models to meet the needs of experimental projects.
• Quarantine and state-of-health monitoring of the animals (parasites, microbiology and virology), in accordance with the criteria proposed by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA).
• Maintenance: cage changing, diet and drink, and cage labelling.
• Sterilisation of the area’s material under SPF conditions: wood shavings, cages and feed.
• Veterinary advice on animal welfare, on choosing the most appropriate model and on maintenance, feeding and reproduction conditions.

Maintenance

• Computer monitoring of the environmental conditions connected to alarms.
• 24-hour maintenance service.
• Environmental- and water-pollution monitoring.
• Recording of the facility’s maintenance.
• Computer management program.
• Waste-elimination management.
• Establishment of standardised work procedures (PNT).

 In relation to users 

The following services are offered to users of the handling rooms and the facilities or common material:  

• Supply of clothing required for access.
• Expert veterinary advice and support.
• Animal anaesthesia, monitoring and post-operative care services.
• Surgical material sterilisation.
• Updating of everything referring to compliance with regulatory legislation on the use of animals for teaching and research.
• Training of staff involved in animal experimentation.
• Notification of specialised courses.
• Collaboration with the service’s staff in animal-monitoring tasks and specific techniques: administering products, obtaining samples, inoculating cells, extracting blood or fluids, anaesthesia, analgesia, euthanasia, autopsies, sample taking, hormonisation, mating, vaginal-plug monitoring, weaning, separating sexes, assisting surgical procedures and post-operative care etc.

Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (CEEA)

• Assistance in drafting experimental procedures.
• Procedural assessments by the CEEA.
• Drafting reports.
• Processing users’ accreditations.
• File of procedures, reports, minutes and list of accredited staff.