The in vivo Research Facility (ivRF) of the CECAD Research Center includes a large cutting-edge holding facility and a Transgenic Core Unit (TCU). The management team ensures the unit's quality control and legal compliance.

Services: The CECAD ivRF offers a range of services. The management of the CECAD ivRF can be contacted for scientific consultation on various matters, including guidance on colony management using the ivRF database, protocols, scientific and operational issues, and experimentation. It is also responsible for the import and export of models and biological materials, offering guidance on welfare, legal requirements, and health monitoring.

There are two primary divisions in the ivRF of CECAD. The housing facility provides CECAD research groups the opportunity to validate their findings in approved, strictly controlled studies. Continuous training of qualified housing staff ensures thorough service, including professional care and on-site assistance.

The TCU is the second division. This unit serves as an experimental platform for developing models using cutting-edge technology such as CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing. Over 200 models have been generated for the scientific community, thanks to the expertise of their scientists and technicians in transgenic technologies. The unit also offers laboratory services for assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation of sperm and embryos.

Research: Biomedical research relies heavily on disease models that accurately reproduce human genetics. We study transgenic and assisted reproductive technologies for the creation and colony management of such models. We have published advanced methods like SEcuRe and EEZy for enhanced in vitro fertilization with cryopreserved sperm and delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing reagents to zygotes via electroporation. The latter approach has been well-cited and adopted in the field.

This ivRF user portal (ivRF intranet) provides comprehensive information on their services and allows users to download all related documents. The facility’s goal is to provide advanced transgenic and assisted reproductive technologies to the scientific community while consistently adhering to the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement).