Central Animal Facility

• 
• 

CENTRAL ANIMAL FACILITY

(Accredited by NABL for Biological Testing, Approval No. T-3331)

SASTRA houses a full-fledged (CPCSEA Registration No: 817/04/ac/CPCSEA) state-of- the-art Central Animal Facility (CAF) of 16,358 sq.ft. for the conduct of pre-clinical studies. The major objectives of the facility are to

Ø  conduct high quality animal research

Ø  provide scientific services and animal resources to students / researchers in and around this region

Ø  educate students/ researchers through certificate courses, internships and other programs

CAF provides the essential pre-clinical contract research and research models and services to various pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, agrochemical and chemical industries, as well as universities, government and other research organizations.

Infrastructure

CAF has all the important requisites for a modern laboratory animal facility including animal holding rooms for different species / strains, experimentation rooms, quarantine rooms, procedure room, clinical pathology laboratory, surgery room, necropsy room, test substance control room, UV sterilization room, etc. The facility also has exclusive transgenic mice rooms provided with Individually Ventilated Caging (IVC) systems and Bio-Containment Unit. The entire facility is centrally air conditioned round the year with the help of a dedicated chilling plant (180 tons capacity) and air handling unit.

 

 

 

Equipment

1.      5 part Veterinary Haematology Analyser                                                   

2.      Fully Automated Biochemistry Analyser

3.      Metabolic Cages

4.      Paw Edema meter

5.      Digital Non invasive Blood Pressure system

6.      Hot Plate Analgesia Meter

7.      Tail Flick Analgesia Meter

8.      Isolated organ and tissue studies systems

9.      16 Channel Polygraph

10.  Electroconvulsive device

11.  Cardiovascular studies systems

12.  Deep Freezer (-80^oC).

13.  Automated Tissue Processor

14.  Heated Paraffin Embedding System

15.  Cold Stations

16.  Microtomes

17.  Tissue Processor

18.  Linear Stainer

19.  Animal operating table

Human Resources

Research Scientists comprising of Veterinarians, Board Certified Veterinary Pathologist, Pharmacologists, Zoologists, Biochemists, Biomedical Scientists, Chemists and other interdisciplinary faculty from the CAF, Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM), School of Chemical & Biotechnology (SCBT) and the Centre for Nano Technology and Advanced Biomaterials (CeNTAB) contribute to various animal research activities.

Key areas of strength

CAF offers a full range of in vivo safety and efficacy testing services in accordance with regulatory guidelines (WHO, OECD, Schedule Y, EPA, ICH, etc.,) which test the biological activity and safety of the compound in a cost effective manner namely,

 

a.       Acute Oral Toxicity

b.      Acute Dermal Toxicity

c.       Acute Inhalation Toxicity

d.      Acute Dermal Irritation/Corrosion

e.       Acute Eye Irritation/Corrosion

f.       Skin Sensitization

g.      Repeated Dose 28 day Oral Toxicity Study in Rodents

h.      Repeated Dose 90-dav Oral Toxicity Studs in Rodents

i.        Repeated Dose Dermal Toxicity: 21/28-day Study

j.        Sub-chronic Dermal Toxicity: 90-day Study

k.      Repeated Dose Inhalation Toxicity: 28 day or 14-day Study

l.        Sub-chronic Inhalation Toxicity: 90-day Study

m.    Prenatal Developmental Toxicity Study

n.      One-Generation Reproduction Toxicity Study

o.      Two-Generation Reproduction Toxicity Study

p.      Reproduction/Developmental Toxicity Screening Test

q.      Acute Oral Toxicity – Acute Toxic Class Method

r.        Neurotoxicity Study in Rodents

s.       Acute Oral Toxicity – Up-and-Down Procedure

t.        Developmental Neurotoxicity Study

u.      Carcinogenicity Studies

v.      Chronic Toxicity Studies

w.    Combined Chronic Toxicity carcinogenicity Studies

 

Efficacy studies

a.       Screening of anti-ulcer activity using animal experimental models like ethanol induced ulcers, pyloric ligature induced ulcers, NSAIDs induced ulcers, etc.

b.      Screening of hepatoprotective activity using animal experimental models like carbon tetrachloride / paracetamol / toxic plants induced hepatotoxicity.

c.       Screening of cardio-protective activity using animal experimental models like Isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction, in vivo anti-hypertensive activity measurement using non-invasive methods, etc.

d.      Screening of anti-diabetic activity using animal experimental models like streptozotocin / alloxan induced diabetes.

e.       Screening of wound healing activity using animal experimental models like surgical excision wounds, infected wounds, etc.

f.       Screening of immuno-modulatory activity using animal experimental models like delay type hyper sensitivity reaction, anti-body response to sheep RBCs, etc.

Geographical coverage of services provided/undertaken

Services are made on requests from any geographical area in India. Some of the important institutions / organisations / universities utilizing the services from different geographical locations are as follows:

 

1.      Citadel Aurobindo Biotech Ltd, Chennai

2.      Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chennai

3.      Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), New Delhi.

4.      Tulsi Ayurvedic Products & Research Pvt. Ltd., U.P.

5.      Department of AYUSH, New Delhi

6.      IPCA Laboratories Limited, Mumbai

7.      Central Council for Research In Ayurveda & Siddha, New Delhi,

8.      Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi

9.      Mother Theresa Institute of Health Sciences, Puducherry

10.  Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai

11.  Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli

12.  Annamalai University, Annamalainagar

13.  Anna University, Tiruchirappalli

14.  Tiruvarur Medical College, Tiruvarur

15.  Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli

16.  Srimad Andavan Arts & Science College Trichy

17.  Sengamalathayar Educational Trust, Mannargudi

18.  PadmavathiCollegeof Pharmacy, Dharmapuri

19.  Kalasalingam University, Srivilliputhur.

Major research projects completed / on going

S.No.	Project Title	Funding  Agency
1	Scientific Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy Profile of Herbal Siddha Formulation in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis	Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, (DST), New Delhi
2	Scientific Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy Profile of Siddha Formulation in the Management of Leucoderma	DST, New Delhi
3	Scientific Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy Profile of Herbal Formulation Advocated in the Prevention and Management of Coronary Heart Disease	DST, New Delhi
4	In-Vivo Standardization of a Siddha Herbal Formula for Obesity	DST, New Delhi
5	National facility for the development of Herbo-metallic preparations of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani	DST, New Delhi
6	Studies on Efficacy of Indian Herbs against Heat Stress induced deterioration of Physical and Mental Performance	DRDO, New Delhi
7.	Virtual lab on Veterinary Gynaecology I & II	MHRD, New Delhi
8.	Virtual Lab on Rodent Anatomy and Histology	MHRD, New Delhi

Animal Care

CAF is dedicated to the humane care and use of research animals. SASTRA has an Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC) which convenes regularly to scrutinize, approve and supervise the animal studies. The IAEC and dedicated veterinary staff manage policies and procedures to ensure that all animal use is performed in accordance with the highest standards.

Training

Certificate courses on ‘Laboratory Animal Techniques’ is conducted where the students/researchers are given hands-on training on a variety of modern laboratory techniques coupled with lectures on Laboratory Animal Management.

Contact Person :

Prof.S.Panchapakesan, M.V.Sc., Ph.D.,

Co-ordinator, Central Animal Facility,

SASTRA University, Thanjavur–613 401

Tamil Nadu, India.

Phone : 04362-264101-108 Extn.3680         

Fax      : 04362-264120          

Mobile: 09443078407

Email   : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.