Facilitating pre-clinical research with SPF rodents

Central Animal Facility

The Central Animal Facility (Proefdiercentrum; PDC) supports research projects with SPF animals, immunodeficient animals or other. Services include basic husbandry and care, breeding, education and (practical) training in laboratory animal science, generation of genetically modified animals through the Transgenesis Facility Leiden (TFL), cryo-banking and rederivation services, pathology service, imaging, behavioral assays and all regular non-GLP preclinical screening assays.

Some special strains are used in Isocages, research for Malaria, Schistosomas or Covid.

Besides this, we offer export and import of animals, MAP/RAP testing and assistance during your experiments.

Mouse in research situation
Microinjection

Services

The Central Animal Facility helps researchers with animal husbandry and care, breeding animals, and generation of genetically altered animals. In addition, the PDC together with the TFL provides full service for the cryo storage of your favorite lines as embryos and/or sperm. Moreover, we offer non-GLP clinical testing, pathology, veterinary care and hematology services, and biotechnical support for animal experiments.

We also provide education and training so researchers have the knowledge and competence to work with animals in a responsible, ethical and safe way. 

Equipment

The PDC provides a wide variety of equipment for researchers and the best veterinary care.

Specialized equipment for in vivo research is available through associated facilities and participating research groups in the following fields:

  • autoclaves
  • fumigation
  • vaporizers
  • microscopes
  • anesthesia
  • behavior set up
  • imaging
  • neurophysiology
  • day-night chambers
  • metabolic cages

Quality assurance

We are currently working under Good Research Practices (GRP) and ARRIVE guidelines for animal research, and Regulatory compliance via guidelines of the NVWA and EU ETS 2010/63.

In 2027 the PDC is aiming to be ISO9001 accredited. Furthermore, we offer non-GLP preclinical testing.  

All technical equipment is maintained annually, the animal facility is state-of-the-art and well equipped.

General overview of the PDC lab
Mouse picture of the knee taken with uCT

About us

The LUMC animal facility has been at the forefront of animal research for decades. We have built up extensive expertise in animal husbandry and complex experimental procedures.

This professional highly trained setting means that we facilitate animal experiments where necessary, while continuously working to reduce, refine and replace animal experiments. The PDC, its staff, including associated departments, offer highly skilled and competent staffing.

Contact

PDC Bedrijfsbureau

Email: PDC-Bedrijfsbureau@lumc.nl
Phone: +31 (0)71 526 9688

LUMC Reseach building
Einthovenweg 20
2333 ZC Leiden

Open on Mon-Fri 8.00-16.30h  

Photos by Els van der Hoek