Vivarium Equipment Animal husbandry 1,291H cages for mice (800 cm2), 1,500U cages for rats (1,500 cm2) supplied by Tecniplast equipped with filters on the top of the cages (Limonest, France), according to international guidelines. Possibility of guinea pig housing. Ventilated cabinets for separated cages (rats and mice). Washing Autoclave (3.6 m3, Getting) Decontamination room (H2O2, Bioquell) Bottle and cage washing (Lancer)

Laboratory organization

Animal facilities (605 m²) organized as follows:

Access
• Controlled access, strictly reserved for Oncodesign staff
• Entry in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) area following a shower and wearing of a sterile suit

SPF area
• Animals are observed for 7 days in our SPF animal care unit before treatment: 2 quarantine rooms (32.5 m²), one area for immunocompromised animals, one area for immunocompetent animals.
• One area for immunocompromised animals with 2 rooms for mouse housing (26.5 m², maximum capacity: 3,240 mice), 2 rooms for rat housing (30.5 m², maximum capacity: 960 rats) and 2 laboratories for animal experiments (11 m² for each species).
• One area for immunocompetent animals with one room for mouse housing (14.5 m², maximum capacity: 1,680 mice), one room for rat housing (17 m², maximum capacity: 720 rats) and one laboratory (11 m²).

Conventional area
• One housing room for non-SPF animals (21 m²) with a ventiled cabinet and a laboratory (6 m²). This housing room can be used for animals outside of the SPF area for conventional MRI experiments.

Autopsy room
• One autopsy room (8 m²) outside of the housing area and laboratories.

"Clean" corridor and "evacuation" corridor
• A "clean" corridor gives access to SPF rooms (housing, quarantine, storage rooms, autoclave…) and an "evacuation" corridor is used to take cages and waste out (without coming in contact with the clean equipment).

Washing
• Evacuation of waste: evacuation of sawdust using a centralized vacuum system in a dirty wash area. The waste is incinerated by a specialized company.
• Washing of bottles and cages using a washing machine placed in the interface between the dirty wash area and the neutral wash area.
• Recovery of cleaned cages in the neutral wash area and sterilization in the autoclave placed in the interface between the neutral wash area and the SPF area.

Access to other facilities
• L2 area (Zootechnic Center of Dijon Faculty of Medicine), L3 (Hospital Center, University of Dijon)
• Area for rabbit, pig and guinea pig housing (Zootechnic Center of Dijon Faculty of Medicine)

MRI area
• In interface between both SPF and conventional areas, the MRI area can be used in SPF or conventional conditions.
• MRI scanner room: 17 m²
• Control scanner room: 9 m²
• Laboratory for animal preparation

Environment

The animals are maintained in rooms under controlled conditions of temperature (23 ± 2°C), humidity (45 ± 10%), photo-period (12h light/12h dark) and air exchange. Animals are maintained under continuously-monitored room temperature and humidity. The air handling system is programmed for 14 air changes per hour, with no re-circulation. Fresh outside air passes through a series of filters, before being diffused evenly into each room. A high pressure (20 ± 4 Pa) is maintained in the experimentation room to prevent contamination or the spread of pathogens within a rodent colony. All personnel follow specific guidelines regarding hygiene and clothing when they enter into the animal husbandry area.