Vivarium

Located on the 7th floor of the MSRC, the Vivarium offers specialized housing and care for rodents. It can accommodate up to 6,400 mice and 840 rats in advanced filter-top microisolator cages that support gas exchange and block environmental contaminants, ensuring a stress-free and stable microenvironment for animals. The facility features eight specialized suites:

• Containment
• Quarantine
• Approved Vendor
• Breeding
• Good Laboratory Practices
• Specific Pathogen-Free (two suites)

Each suite includes rooms for animal biosafety level 2 procedures, behavioral assessments, and animal holding. Holding rooms feature independent light and dark cycle controls. The Vivarium also offers a fully equipped necropsy room. Users have controlled card access to the facility at all times throughout the year.

MSRC’s Vivarium maintains Assurance D23-01173 with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) of NIH and observes the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Vivarium is subject to rigorous oversight by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (MSRC-IACUC).

We offer services to both academic and non-academic users, including for-profit and non-profit organizations. Internal MSRC and UPR researchers are eligible for discounted rates.

Animal procurement

• Acquisition and procurement of animals from approved vendors. The project requires prior approval from the IACUC

Breeding

• Mouse and rat breeding and colony management

Routinary Standard Care

• Sterile caging, food, water, bedding, sanitation, and enrichment under optimal environmental conditions

Training

• Scheduled sessions on animal handling, experimental manipulation, and animal use protocol development
• Individualized training

Technical services

• Animal identification
• Anesthetic and surgical support
• Sample collection, and euthanasia

Veterinary Services

• Consultation on experimental preclinical protocols
• Diagnostic and therapeutic of pathological conditions in research animals in experimental protocols
• Technical support
• Special surgical procedures

Rates are effective as of September 1st, 2025 and are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on operational costs and regulatory requirements. The facility reserves the right to modify these rates without prior notice to reflect changes in cost or policy.

 

Per diem Rates                        Other Fees                                        Breeding