Research Cores

This core has been breeding and maintaining defined flora mice in the Cox-7 gnotobiotic animal facility operated by the Edwin L. Steele Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology as a specialized facility of the Center for Comparative Medicine and Services at the MGH. This is a unique animal facility in the Harvard/MGH system and fully AAALAC-accredited. It genetates about 30 different strains of high quality mice (defined flora condition). Amang which immunodeficient mice such as Nude and SCID mice are widely available (in large quantity) through this Core. More heavbiliy immunodeficient NOD-SCID and NSG mice are also available with special arrangement.

Core Director:  Dai Fukumura, MD, PhD
Phone: 617-726-8143
Fax:  617-724-5841
Email: dai@steele.mgh.harvard.edu

Other Staff: 
Facility Director: Peigen Huang, MD, MSc.
Phone: 617-726-8143
Fax:  617-724-5841
Email: peigen@steele.mgh.harvard.edu

Location of Core: MGH Cox building (100 Blossom Street) 7th floor
 
Major Equipment: Gnotobiotic animal facility 
The facility occupies 4,500 sq. ft. of floor space of which approximately 2/3 is used for production or experimentation, while the remainder is storage and hallway space. Inside of the colony, there are three breeding rooms, one maturation (stock) room, three rooms for the experimental animals, one general surgical lab, and one microscope work station lab. There are 15 laminar flow benches, 14 hard plastic isolators, 2 complete microsurgery setups, 3,300 polycarbonate micro-isolator mouse cages, 84 mobile stainless steel mouse racks, 2 irradiators, 30 utility carts, 12 autoclave racks, and 2 cabinets. All the air entering the facility is HEPA-filtered and exhausted at floor level providing a sweeping action so that any possible contaminants from personnel are swept off and out at the floor exhausts. All equipment and supplies are sterilized by steam, dry heat, chemically or by ethylene oxide. All personnel wear sterile gowns, caps, and face masks, and all manipulations are done using gloves and a chlorine dioxide sterilant. Outside of the barrier facility, there is one washing room, one outside experimental animal storage room, and one general lab. There are 2 laminar flow benches, 2 steam autoclaves, 2 incubators, 1 anaerobic incubator, 1 complete microsurgery setup, 2 liquid nitrogen freezers, 1 Girton tunnel washer, 1 roller table, 1 washer, 1 dryer, and 2 sterilizing drum.

To access the core, please contact Ms. Elizabeth J. Garzon at 617-726-8143 or by email atEGARZON@mgh.harvard.edu

For technical questions and special arrangement, please contact to Dr. Peigen Huang at 617-726-8143 or peigen@steele.mgh.harvard.edu.