1. Do I need ARC approval for every behavioral test I wish to run?
2. How long does it take to get ARC approval?
3. How do I transfer animals into the Core facility?
4.When should I transfer my animals?
6. What can I expect from full-service testing?
7. How do you manage and share generated data?
8. I’ve never performed behavioral testing. Can I still run my own testing?
9. Do I need to collect my data in the BTC to use other BTC services?
1. Do I need ARC approval for every behavioral test I wish to run?
Absolutely. Every procedure involving animal subjects must be approved by the Animal Research Committee. DLAM has approved a number of SOPs for the various behavior tests available in the core. You can copy those SOP procedures into your own protocol in RATS. See tip #3 in the following link for accessing a full list of our SOPs in RATS: https://rsawa.research.ucla.edu/arc/rats-quick-tips/#qt3
2. How long does it take to get ARC approval?
Typically, there is about a 2-week lag between the deadline for protocol submission and the ARC meeting at which the protocol will be reviewed (see the ARC Meeting and Submission Deadlines ). Once the protocol has been reviewed, you will be notified of any issues that need to be addressed. If the ARC requires no further clarification on the protocol, it may be approved very quickly after the meeting. If you are only adding behavior tests to your protocol, approval tends to be fairly quick. If you are starting a new animal protocol from scratch, expect 1-3 months or longer for approval.
3. How do I transfer animals into the Core facility?
All housing is arranged and approved by DLAM. Please contact the vivarium manager for a room assignment. When transferring from a UCLA vivarium, you must complete a request on the DLAM transfer website: https://dlamxfrs.dlam.ucla.edu/. DLAM requires that animals be transferred with a DLAM/UCLA Van. Rodents purchased from an approved vendor may be delivered directly into the Franz/Pritzker vivarium. Transfers from another institution will likely need to undergo quarantine in the CHS quarantine vivarium for 4-8 weeks. Once health tests have been cleared, mice can then be transferred into the Franz/Pritzker vivarium for testing
4.When should I transfer my animals?
Transfers are very stressful for the animals, and a stressed animal is not going to perform well in a behavioral assay. Therefore, we recommend transferring your animals at least a full week prior to the start of behavioral testing. This will allow your mice to recover from the transfer, as well as adjust to any minor differences in the temperature, humidity, or light cycle of their new room.
5. I would like to run protocol x. I don’t see protocol x in your list of tasks. Can you set up protocol x for me?
Yes! We are always willing to listen to reasonable requests for additional tasks. It is possible that we have the equipment necessary for your task even if our protocol does not yet include the procedure. If we do not have the equipment, it’s often possible for us to borrow or in some cases, build the necessary apparatus. Just ask!
6. What can I expect from full-service testing?
BTC staff will meet with you to discuss the various aspects of your research project and come to an agreement on the scope of work. We will go over your research goals, feasibility of your testing requests, recommend tests based on your hypothesis, layout a potential timeline, and answer any questions. We can then generate an estimated quote for the scope of work. For UCLA clients, you must add the behavioral tests, behavioral core staff, and the Franz/Pritzker vivarium to your own animal protocol.
For non-UCLA clients, we will amend our own ARC protocol to include any additional animal models, drug treatments, or behavioral tests. We will work with the business department to setup a new client account and generate a sales and services contract outlining the scope of work and payment schedule.
For all users upon completion of testing, we will create a box.com folder that we will share with the relevant parties. We will upload all raw video files, testing software files (e.g., Anymaze files), basic exported data in .csv or .xls format, and the lab notebook entry from the testing day.
For BTC staff run testing, we will share a box.com folder with all relevant files. We will upload all materials generated during our testing. This includes any raw video files, software files created during testing (e.g., AnyMaze files), exported data (.csv or .xls), and the electronic lab notebook entry created during testing.
For self-run testing, the user is responsible for saving files from the computers. None of the computers are networked, so please bring a USB or other device to download your data from the computer. Computers are occasionally backed up and old files are deleted locally. You can reach out to BTC for access to old data files that may no longer be on the computer.
We currently use labfolder.com by SciSure as our electronic lab notebook.
8. I’ve never performed behavioral testing. Can I still run my own testing?
Yes! The BTC can train you on animal handling, best practices for behavioral testing, use of our software, actual running of the behavioral test, as well as appropriate data analysis and interpretation. Please reach out to schedule training!
No! You do not need to perform your testing in the core to take advantage other services like training, troubleshooting, tracking software, or help with data analysis. We’re here to support your project in any way we can.
9. Do I need to collect my data in the BTC to use other BTC services?
Please send any questions to uclabtc@gmail.com.