Vivarium Space + Services for Your Research

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Focus on your science and we’ll take care of the rest.

When biomedical research requires animal studies, the costs and complexities of building a vivarium and operating your own vivarium or outsourcing in vivo studies to a contract research organization (CRO) can be prohibitive and delay your preclinical trials.

Mispro offers biopharma and biotechnology companies an alternative to outsourcing preclinical drug development to a CRO or internalizing a research vivarium. In our network of full-service rodent vivarium rental spaces, you can launch preclinical studies quickly, and benefit from the flexibility to scale your in vivo program based on results and funding.

Mispro offers full-service preclinical contract vivarium space, enabling your scientists to conduct and control in vivo studies in private or shared holding and procedure rooms while we handle all the rest – including animal housing, veterinary care, animal husbandry, technical services, and regulatory compliance oversight.

Mispro offers the following vivarium services:

Veterinary oversight
Daily animal health check and husbandry services
Colony management
Cage washing and sterilization
Animal ordering and receiving
Waste management

IACUC oversight and protocol assistance
AAALAC-accreditation
OLAW / PHS Assurance
USDA registration
State and local animal welfare regulatory licensure
Technical support and training for in vivo studies. Learn more

State-of-the-art rodent vivarium space

Eliminate the complexities of running a vivarium space and managing animal care and compliance and keep your expertise focused on your innovative work. Our vivarium space environments include private and shared options for animal housing and vivo testing procedure rooms, as well as access to special equipment and technology to support your preclinical research.

Private and shared procedure rooms
Private and shared housing rooms
Private suites that include housing and procedure rooms
Necropsy rooms
Quarantine rooms
In-room Class II biosafety cabinets (BSCs) to conduct biosafety level (BSL) I and biosafety level (BSL) II research
State-of-the-art housing racks and monitoring equipment

Individually ventilated (IVC) static and disposable caging systems
Strict environmental control
Imaging, RFID, and genotyping equipment and services
Locker rooms and showers
Common space to meet, relax and recharge
Individual key-card entry and 24/7 year-round access
Convenient locations near highways, public transit, or within walking distance

Expert animal care & compliance services

Mispro’s managed research environments and end-to-end vivarium services ensure that your focus stays on your science while we take care of everything else. We provide best-in-class laboratory animal services and procedure rooms for your preclinical research. Additionally, our friendly and accommodating staff is available to help with any additional services or equipment your organization needs to support your studies.

Mispro is an AAALAC-accredited organization. To ensure safety and compliance at all times in our research facilities, we require that every study conducted with our services and facilities is approved by our in-house Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). We strongly advocate for the 3R’s—replacement, reduction, refinement—and we strictly follow regulatory guidelines for the ethical and humane treatment of research animals.

Technical Services support for in vivo studies

For client teams who may need additional support with their animal models studies program, Mispro offers high quality training and assistance for basic biomethodology, surgical procedure support, and breeding colony management. Our Technical Services capabilities include:

Basic biomethodology

Compound administration
Blood collection
Clinical observation & assessments
Cancer biology
Animal identification

Necropsy

Colony Health Monitoring & adverse study event investigation
Terminal tissue collection
Tissue fixation

Perioperative surgical support

Pre-operative preparation
Intra-operative monitoring
Post-operative care & monitoring

Breeding Colony Management

Strain lineage management
Phenotypic characterization
Pairing, weaning, ‘tag & tail’
Cryopreservation

Technology that supports your studies

Mispro understands the impact that the right technology can have on the quality of your science as well as the ease of your workflows. To ensure you have ready access to the tools that drive your research and streamline your studies, we partner with leading instrument and service providers such as Transnetyx, LI-COR, and Somark, the makers of SensaLab. Set up a tour to see the full breadth of available technology at the Mispro facility near you.

SensaLab® powered by Digital Mouse®

Using the world’s smallest and most affordable medical research Digitail™ Tag, Digital Mouse® will let you track any mouse, anywhere, in real-time.

TransnetYX® Genotyping

Just drop your sample into the on-site TAGCenter kiosk and get your genotype results in just 72 hours.

Somark Labstamp®

The Labstamp® System provides unsurpassed consistency, readability and durability for visual mouse identification.

LiCor Pearl® Trilogy

LiCor’s’ Small Animal Imaging System enables you to characterize and monitor therapeutic delivery and response using a sensitive, two-target detection platform.

Interested in learning about how Mispro’s full-service Contract Vivarium enabled an emerging biotech company to improve their timelines and results?

Frequently Asked Questions

Working with Mispro

What kind of studies can I conduct in Mispro facilities?

Researchers can conduct biosafety level (BSL) I and biosafety level (BSL) II rodent studies that have been approved by Mispro’s IACUC. Please contact us about non-rodent research models.

Can I start with just a couple of cages?

Yes, we offer flexible options for access to housing and procedure space, enabling companies to start small and scale up and down as needed.

How quickly can we launch a study?

For new clients, there are a few factors that affect start dates for studies, such as protocol approval and receipt of animals. Most clients begin their studies in less than a month from a signed contract.

Does Mispro provide animal models for studies?

Clients establish their own accounts with animal vendors. At the client’s request, Mispro can manage ordering and receiving animals for a client once an account is set up.

Does Mispro offer technical services support?

Yes. Mispro offers both training and assistance for basic biomethodology, surgical procedure support, and breeding colony management in support of preclinical in vivo rodent studies.

Can I leave my stuff at the facility?

Yes. In private and semi-private rooms and suites your space is yours and accessible only by your company. Mispro staff access housing rooms to deliver animal care and enter procedure rooms for regular maintenance and upon request.

How can I ensure that our studies will remain confidential in a coworking facility?

Confidentiality is central to Mispro’s mission and we ensure that sensitive information is not displayed on rooms, cages, or racks. Private animal housing and procedure rooms are exclusive to your company with the exception of Mispro’s professional staff who enter to provide care and maintenance. Shared procedure rooms contain locked storage areas for equipment and proprietary materials.

Grant-related questions

I have received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal. Does Mispro have a Public Health Service (PHS) Assurance we can utilize?

Yes, Mispro maintains a PHS Assurance and it can be utilized for NIH funding opportunities.

Can Mispro provide a Letter of Support for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals?

Yes, Mispro can provide a Letter of Support upon request.

Facilities and equipment

What kind of caging does Mispro use?

We use state-of-the-art individually ventilated caging (IVC) and rack systems using both disposable and reusable cages. If you’re not sure what will work best for your project goals, we can provide recommendations.

What type of equipment is provided in Mispro facilities?

We provide state-of-the-art rack and caging systems, biosafety cabinets (BSCs), fume hoods, downdraft hoods, and access to imaging machine, animal ID stamp and digital RFID technology, and genotyping services.

Does Mispro offer private rooms?

Yes, we offer private, semi-private, and shared options for both procedure rooms and animal housing rooms. We also offer private suites which include both housing and procedure space(s).

Terminology

What is animal husbandry?

Animal husbandry is the daily observation and care for animals by certified laboratory Animal Care Technicians, and includes feeding, water, cage cleaning and enrichment. Mispro provides animal husbandry services 365 days a year.

What is veterinary oversight?

Mispro employs an Attending Veterinarian and a team of Clinical Veterinarians. The veterinarian team provides both institutional and on-location oversight and assurance that clients are adhering to study protocols, regulatory and compliance guidelines for animal research, and the humane and ethical treatment of research models. Veterinary oversight also includes regularly scheduled animal health checks and support and guidance for issues related to animal health.

What is an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)?

The IACUC is a self-regulating entity that, according to U.S. federal law, must be established by institutions using vertebrate animals in research, instructional, training, outreach and display projects. The IACUC is responsible for assuring that live vertebrate animals are used and cared for in an ethical and humane manner and to ensure compliance with federally mandated rules and regulations. All studies must be reviewed and approved by the Mispro IACUC.

Regulatory, oversight, and animal care

How long is an Animal Care and Use Protocol approved for?

Protocols are approved for a 3 year period.

Do you provide assistance for drafting new protocols?

Yes, all new protocol and amendment submissions undergo an initial pre-review by a member of Mispro’s IACUC to address common questions and to ensure the protocol meets regulatory and policy guidelines.

What is the average time before IACUC approval is received?

On average, IACUC approval is received within three to four weeks of protocol submission, but clients should be aware that there are factors specific to each client and protocol that could impact timing. This includes: complexity of the protocol and completion of mandatory requirements (training and Occupational Health and Safety) by the Principal Investigator and protocol personnel.

Is there a limit to protocol amendments?

No. There is no limit to protocol amendments. It takes 1-2 weeks to approve an amendment.

Does Mispro have a controlled substance license?

Clients are responsible for obtaining their own US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state-controlled substances licenses.

What is AAALAC accreditation?

Mispro Biotech Services is AAALAC-accredited, which means that every three years our facilities, animal care services, and compliance measures are inspected and reviewed by members of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). Accreditation is our way of ensuring our commitment to responsible animal care in our facilities and with our services.

Does Mispro have a sentinel program?

Yes, we employ a sentinel testing program in all housing rooms in our facilities.