Training Opportunities: RARC and Education & Quality Assurance (EQA) | Research

Overview of Training Opportunities

For locations and to be added to the broadcast list submit a request to rarceqa@med.cornell.edu

Weill Cornell Medical College-RARC Investigator Orientation-Online

Goals - This training is required for all investigative staff regardless of their role in the animal use project. It consists of three eLearning modules, and a facility tour, designed to introduce new and experienced staff to the use of animals in biomedical research in general and the services and facilities of the Research Animal Resource Center in specific. RARC staff and services, safety requirements, regulatory background and compliance requirements, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and research staff conduct in the animal facility are just a few of the topics covered. Staff MUST complete the online modules to be granted access to the facilities and must complete the facility tour within 30 days of gaining access to maintain their access to the facilities. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal of access and revocation of animal use privileges.

Online Orientation

Investigator Training Seminars, Tri-Institution, 6-8 seminars offered per year, duration: 1.5 hrs

For location and to be added to the broadcast list submit a request to rarceqa@med.cornell.edu

This seminar series is a tri-institutional program involving WCMC and MSKCC Center of Comparative Medicine and Patholgoy and the Comparative Bioscience Center of Rockefeller University (RU). The series provides monthly Investigator Training Seminars on a wide variety of topics concerned with the care and use of animals in biomedical research. Seminar topics include basic handling and injection techniques, the use of anesthetics and analgesics, regulatory issues, and bioethics. New subject matter is added frequently.
Target Audience: Investigators, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students.

Investigator Training Webinars

Xenograft Training-Online

Investigators conducting studies in rodents transplanted with human xenografts, cell lines or cell strains are required to complete this RARC training prior to beginning their work. The eLearning module, and the follow-up Xenograft Room walk-though, acquaints the attendee with the institutional policy governing human xenograft work and reviews OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and use of the Class II, Type A Biological Safety Cabinet as well as animal husbandry concerns and waste handling. All personnel working with human xenograft material in animals must complete this training. Xenograft room access is not granted until required training is completed.

Online Xenograft Training

Hazardous Material Training-Online

Investigators conducting studies in animals treated with hazardous chemicals, carcinogens, or biological agents are required to complete Hazardous Materials Training prior to beginning work with these agents. The training session addresses compliance with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and MSKCC/WCMC's Chemical Hygiene Plan as well as all applicable RARC guidelines developed for these investigations in animals. The eLearning module, and the follow-up Hazardous Materials Suite walk-though will address use of practices and safety equipment for working in the "Animal Biosafety Laboratory 2+ (ABSL2+), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and use of the Class II, Type A Biological Safety Cabinet as well as animal husbandry concerns and waste handling. All personnel working with hazardous material in animals must complete this training. Hazardous Material Suite access is not granted until required training is completed.

Online Hazardous Materials Training

Rodent Surgery Training, bimonthly, alt. Didactic/hands-on

All investigators conducting rodent surgery are required to attend at least one of the sessions offered prior to performing surgical procedures on rodents regardless of previous animal surgical experience. This session and accompanying guidelines were developed utilizing The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established recommendations for conducting major rodent survival surgical procedures, the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

The following areas are covered in each session - aseptic technique, surgical equipment and instrumentation, animal and surgeon sterile preparation, suture material and wound closure, postoperative care including methods to effect a smooth recovery, evaluate and manage post-surgical pain, postoperative monitoring and wound assessment and record keeping requirements.

The hands-on session is strongly recommended for all individuals especially the novice as it provides a real-life experience; the didactic session is appropriate for personnel at all levels of experience. All investigators are welcomed to attend both. Occupational Health & Safely clearance is required prior to attending any hands-on session.

Duration (Hands-on) 1.5 hours
Duration (Didactic) 1 hour

Frequency:
1st Friday of the month, 10:00am-11:30am, Hands-On session
3rd Monday of the month, 10:30am-11:30am, Didactic session

Registration

Training Materials

Anesthesia Cart Operating Instructions
Anesthetics and Analgesics in Small Animals IACUC
Fluid Homeostasis Maintenance Guideline
Glass Bead Sterilizer Instructions
Rodent Survival Surgery Guidelines
Surgical Instruments, vaporizers, etc.
Surgical Supplies-snuggle safe-softies-clippers
User's Guide and Operating Manual- Vet equip inhalation anesthesia

Isotope Room Training, Ad hoc, 1 hr

Investigators conducting studies in animals treated with radionuclides are required to attend Isotope Room training. The training session addresses compliance with Federal and Institutional regulations governing the use of radionuclides as well as procedures for handling rodents, their caging and equipment, and other animal use materials contaminated with radionuclides. The didactic presentation addresses the use of safety equipment for working with animals treated with radionuclides, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and use of the Class II, Type A Biological Safety Cabinet as well as extensive descriptions of animal husbandry concerns and waste handling precautions. All personnel working with radionuclides in animals must attend this session. Isotope Room access is not granted until required training is completed.

Large Animal Surgery / Medical Records — Ad hoc, 1-2 hrs

Governmental and institutional guidelines and regulations require that all major surgical procedures in large animals are performed by trained personnel with close attention paid to aseptic and surgical technique, animal well-being, and the physical state of the animal used.

The large animal investigator training consists of a variety of sessions. The initial pre-surgical planning meeting joins the investigative team with the RARC Veterinary Services, Facility Management and Education & QA services
The ORIENTATION session includes the following: preoperative procedures and medications, transportation to the OR, aseptic surgeon and animal preparation and instrumentation, general anesthesia procedures, record keeping,

Non-Human Primate (NHP) Training — Ad hoc, 1.5 hrs

All staff working with non-human primates, primate tissue or body fluids or associated equipment in any capacity must attend this introductory session consisting of didactic and audio visual components. Species-specific characteristics, common research techniques and zoonotic diseases are discussed. The occupational health and safety concerns regarding NHP work are addressed as are standard operating procedures in the event of injury. This mandatory training must be completed prior to authorizing access to the NHP's holding area. Personnel do not receive the full approval of the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee until this training is completed. NPH Safety training is required on an annual basis and is scheduled ad hoc by the EQA Administrator.

Primer on Rodent Breeding

This annual Webinar reviews murine reproductive physiology and behavior including reproductive techniques, sexing and aging mouse pups, mating systems, troubleshooting and record keeping. Attendees are provided a comprehensive monograph on breeding genetically engineered mice.

Duration 1 hour

For registration or to view previous recordings, please see the Webinar Page.

You may also view a self-paced online module related to Rodent Reproductive Biology and Breeding.

Training Materials:

Species-specific Hands-on Training

Species-specific Hands-on Training Sessions are required for all staff members with one year or less previous experience with their selected species and are scheduled ad hoc to suit investigator needs. Individuals are not allowed to work on animals unsupervised prior to receiving this training. Workforce Health & Safety clearance is required prior to attending any hands-on session. Sessions are scheduled with limited enrollment in order to allow for individual attention.

Request Training

Training Materials: Mouse

Training Materials: Rat

Ad hoc Training Opportunities

Large Animal Orientation
NHP - Occupational Health and Safety
Protocol Submission and Pre-review
Special Session (Individual lab oriented training)
Special Techniques (Species specific, tailored to investigator needs)

Please note: There are numerous ad hoc training sessions, wet lab and seminars indicated below. For more information or to be put on our mailing list, contact rarceqa@med.cornell.edu.