Our Research
The HZI technology platform „Core Facility of Comparative Medicine” is responsible for the humane treatment and orderly care of laboratory animals required for scientific research purposes. We enable the HZI scientists to perform infection experiments on mice and hamsters up to biosafety level S3.
In our units, we house the animals under continuously monitored, standardized conditions (temperature, humidity, light cycle) in individually ventilated cages (IVC). Therefore, we can exclude unwanted infections by external pathogens. The barriers are strictly separated against the environment and are ventilated with sterile filtered air. All necessary material has to be sterilized; electronically controlled access is restricted to admitted personal only, complete change of clothes is necessary.
These hygienic measures not only keep our animals healthy – we can also ensure that no pathogens will leave our experimental barriers. This includes sterilization of all used materials (e.g. used bedding or food rests) before leaving the unit.
Animal husbandry and animal experiments are regulated by strict legal provisions, e.g. the German Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz) , the Animal Welfare Regulation (Tierschutz-Versuchstierverordnung) and the Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The animal facility management is supported by the Animal Welfare Officer and the Animal Welfare Committee.
Our Research
The HZI technology platform „Core Facility of Comparative Medicine” is responsible for the humane treatment and orderly care of laboratory animals required for scientific research purposes. We enable the HZI scientists to perform infection experiments on mice and hamsters up to biosafety level S3.
In our units, we house the animals under continuously monitored, standardized conditions (temperature, humidity, light cycle) in individually ventilated cages (IVC). Therefore, we can exclude unwanted infections by external pathogens. The barriers are strictly separated against the environment and are ventilated with sterile filtered air. All necessary material has to be sterilized; electronically controlled access is restricted to admitted personal only, complete change of clothes is necessary.
These hygienic measures not only keep our animals healthy – we can also ensure that no pathogens will leave our experimental barriers. This includes sterilization of all used materials (e.g. used bedding or food rests) before leaving the unit.
Animal husbandry and animal experiments are regulated by strict legal provisions, e.g. the German Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz) , the Animal Welfare Regulation (Tierschutz-Versuchstierverordnung) and the Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The animal facility management is supported by the Animal Welfare Officer and the Animal Welfare Committee.
Service
Animal husbandry in full service by well-trained animal caretakers:
- Species-appropriate husbandry of lab animals (food, water, cleaning of cages)
- Daily animal care and control
- Colony management
- Tissue biopsies and blood sampling
Healthcare and hygienic monitoring of the animals by veterinarians, additional support by the mouse pathology
Lab services:
- Hygienic rederivation
- Kryoconservation of mouse strains (embryo, sperm)
- In vitro fertilisation
- Embryo transfer for generation of transgenic lines (-> Transgenic Mice)
Support of experimenters by:
- Basic courses in lab animal science
- Lab animal courses for persons involved in animal experiments
- Talks and seminars for continuous education
Marina Greweling-Pils
Marina Greweling-Pils studied veterinary medicine at the Hanover Veterinary School and the École Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon (France). After her graduation in 2004, she came to the Helmholtz Centre for her PhD thesis. Her research at the HZI focused on colitis and infections. During her Postdoc at the Hanover Medical School, Dr Greweling-Pils worked on the induction of tolerance in organ transplantation. She returned to the HZI as deputy head of the animal facility in 2009 and since 2011, she is head of the mouse pathology platform.
Team
Animal Protection Committee
The Animal Welfare Committee assumes the tasks prescribed in §6 of the Animal Welfare Regulation ("Tierschutz-Versuchstierverordnung"), such as supporting the Animal Welfare Officer, surveilling the animals' welfare, and tracing the progress und results of animal experiments.
The committee consists of the Animal Welfare Officers, representatives of the department´s animal care staff as well as scientific members. The committee can be contacted via e-mail.
