Species-DiverseToday, Cornell cares for about 48,000 animals daily on the Ithaca and Genevacampuses. (The Weill Cornell MedicalCollege operates its own animal care anduse program.) Cornell is home to a widevariety of laboratory animals: fish, birds,snakes, frogs, rats, mice and other rodents,rabbits, woodchucks, dogs, cats, horses, cattle,sheep, pigs, poultry, and others. Nearly 80percent of the animals in the Cornell programare rodents, birds, and fish, and most arebred solely for a research purpose.

Because mice and humans share about 90percent of the same genes, there has beentremendous growth in the use of mice. Theyaccount for 30 percent of the animals usedannually at Cornell. Their size, ease of care,and short life span make them useful forstudies on aging, the progression of disease,and diseases that occur later in life. Micewith natural genetic deficiencies can be bredas models of human disease, and scientistscan insert non-native genes or “knockout”genes to study gene function and humangenetic diseases.

Invaluable KnowledgeResearch that requires animal use is conductedin the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Science,Arts and Sciences, Engineering, VeterinaryMedicine, and Human Ecology. Of the nearly1,600 faculty at Cornell’s Ithaca and Genevacampuses, more than 250 use vertebrateanimals in research and teaching, whichinvolves approximately 3,500 undergraduate,graduate, and postdoctoral students. Morethan 650 individual research projects requireanimal use. Cornell’s upstate campusesreceived approximately $57 million in federalfunding in 2005 for animal-based research.The knowledge scientists gain from studiesinvolving research animals contributes tosaving and improving the lives of humansand animals and brings advances in thediagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Model of a Superior ProgramFive years ago, Cornell embarked on a questto improve its animal care and use program,aiming to be the model of a superior program—a program recognized as one of the best inNorth America. The university conducteddetailed reviews of all animal facilities,identifying those that were aged or required

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Caring Comes FirstAnimals in Cornell’s Researchand Teaching Programs*We have come a long way since the 1860s when the first animalswere used in teaching at Cornell. Cats for comparative anatomyclasses were kept in the basement of McGraw Hall alongsidethe janitor’s quarters. In A History of Cornell (1962), MorrisBishop states that the “cats’ fleas were so ferocious that UncleJosh [the janitor] had to wear anklets of flypaper—with thesticky side outside.”

* Excludes the Weill Cornell Medical College

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Photos in this article: Frank DiMeo unless otherwise noted

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upgrades, such as better heating, ventilation,and air-conditioning systems, and clarifyingtheir purposes. Integrating information fromfacility reviews with the long-term needs foranimal facilities, we developed a master planfor animal facilities at Cornell.

The master plan includes the construction oftwo new animal facilities—the East CampusResearch Facility (ECRF) and the Life SciencesTechnology Building (LSTB)—and major ren-ovations of two other facilities. Renovationsare now completed in one facility, and arein progress in the other. The new investmentin animal care facilities is $100 million.

The Home of Biomedical and Behavior Research AnimalsFacilities for animals used in biomedical and behavioral research are among the mostexpensive research spaces to build (approxi-mately $700 per gross square foot) and tooperate. In order to minimize the number ofanimals used for research, variables that couldconfound or skew research results must beminimized. The design, construction, andoperation of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems are therefore criticaland account for almost 40 percent of thecost of construction.

Small fluctuations in temperature are verystressful, especially for rodents, and thesecould affect animal health and diminish thequality of the research data. The temperaturein each animal room must be individuallycontrolled to ensure the optimum for thespecies and age of the animal. Relativehumidity in these facilities is as close aspossible to 50 percent throughout the year—too little or too much humidity can causehealth problems and affect reproduction insome species.

The air quality in animal facilities is critical.The air is 100 percent fresh air with 12 to15 air changes per hour. For comparison, an

office has mostly recirculated air with acouple of air changes per hour. The animalroom air changes are necessary to removeodors, gases, and particulate matter from thefacility. In addition to preventing researchvariability, appropriate air circulation protectspeople in the vivarium from exposure toexcessive allergens.

Properly balanced air systems provideappropriate directional airflow. Positivelypressurized rooms protect pathogen-free (clean)animals from unwanted viral contamination.Negatively pressurized rooms prevent potentialpathogens from coming out.

Sanitation is very important in a vivarium.All surfaces must be sanitizable; they must be smooth and sealed so that they areimpervious to water. High-quality finishesare imperative. Every cut or hole made in asurface must be sealed, and light fixturesmust be watertight.

Many mice are irreplaceable or worth hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. Viralor bacterial contamination of the animals candestroy the research. Consequently, thesemice are housed in individually ventilatedcages—like having their own “private room”within the animal room. Their air source,cage, food, bedding, and water are sterile,and the cages are only opened under a sterileair source. All equipment entering the animalroom is steam-sterilized or passed through adisinfectant misting tunnel.

Facilities for Farm AnimalsCornell has dairy, beef, horse, poultry, duck,sheep, and pig farms! Animals on these farmsare used in research to improve animal nutri-tion, breeding management, and productionefficiency or to improve the quality of food.The farm animals live on high-quality, well-managed farms. The animals’ identification,individual data, veterinary care, and researchor teaching use are well documented.

Today, Cornell cares for about 48,000 animalsdaily on the Ithaca and Geneva campuses …fish, birds, snakes, frogs, rats, mice and otherrodents, rabbits, woodchucks, dogs, cats, horses,cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, and others.

• Replaces animal housing that wouldrequire major investment

• New capacity for45,000 mice

• 79,000 g.s.f. (gross square feet)

• $55 million

• Expected completion:September 2007

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The East CampusResearch Facility

Michele Bailey

CAREThe Cornell Center for Animal Resourcesand Education (CARE), a unit within theOffice of the Vice Provost for Research, isresponsible for the administration and over-sight of Cornell’s animal care and useprogram. CARE provides veterinary care tothe animals and assists researchers inresearch design and procedures. CAREensures not only the clinical health of theanimals, but also the psychological orbehavioral well-being of the animals—thatis, the animals must be free to express normalbehaviors. Seven CARE veterinarians andeight veterinary technicians routinely visitthe animal facilities and laboratories towork with the investigators and animal carestaff, as well as to examine and treat animals.

IACUCThe Cornell University Institutional AnimalCare and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews,approves, and monitors animal use inresearch and teaching to ensure compliancewith applicable regulations. The IACUC, whichincludes three members from the Ithacacommunity who are not affiliated with Cornell,communicates directly with the Office of theVice Provost for Research. The IACUC inspectsall animal housing and procedure areastwice a year.

Beyond State and Federal RequirementsAlthough state and federal laws govern thework we do with animals, Cornell strives toexceed the requirements. We are committedto treating the animals with care and dignity.Cornell has a stringent set of closely moni-tored university policies that go beyondminimum standards. Cornell requires thatresearch and teaching adhere to standardsand practices delineated in the Guide for the

Care and Use of Laboratory Animals,published by the National Research Council’sInstitute of Laboratory Animal Resources,and the Guide for the Care and Use ofAgricultural Animals in Agricultural Researchand Teaching, published by the Federationof Animal Science Societies. Inspectors fromthe New York State Department of Health andthe United States Department of Agricultureconduct unannounced inspections at leastonce a year to assure compliance.

AAALACCornell voluntarily participates in a rigorouspeer review conducted by the Association forAssessment and Accreditation of LaboratoryAnimal Care International (AAALAC). Thisprivate, nonprofit organization promotes thehumane treatment of animals in sciencethrough voluntary accreditation and assess-ment programs. Every three years, AAALACsite visitors assess Cornell’s animal care anduse program. They review institutional policies and responsibilities, including thefunction of the IACUC, personnel qualifica-tions and training, and the occupationalhealth and safety program; the animal environment, housing, and management;veterinary medical care; and the physicalplant and facilities. In July 2006, AAALACbrought ten site visitors to spend six daysassessing Cornell’s animal care and use program. Accreditation by AAALAC demon-strates that our animal care and use programmeets the minimum standards required bylaw and that we have gone beyond toachieve excellence in animal care and use.

ProtocolsBefore animals can be acquired for use inresearch and teaching, the faculty membersubmits a detailed protocol form that

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Five years ago,Cornell embarked ona quest to improve itsanimal care and useprogram, aiming to be the model of asuperior program—aprogram recognizedas one of the best inNorth America.

• Consolidation of someexisting animal housingwith new capacity

• 256,000 g.s.f. at $157 million

• 22,400 g.s.f. vivariumat $18 million

• Expected completion:Jannuary 2008

INFO

Life Sciences Technology Building

design:RichardMeierand

Partners;rendering:dbox.com

UniversityPhotography

“Cornell Universityregards the use of animalsin research and teachingas essential to continuedprogress in science, engineering, medicine,agriculture, and education.We also consider it essential to devote allresources necessary toadhere to the highest ethical standards of animal care and use.”

Biddy Martin, ProvostCornell University

Ethical Standards

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describes animal care and use proceduresfrom onset until conclusion. The protocolprovides scientific justification for the project;for example, it explains the relevance tohuman or animal health, the advancementof knowledge, or the good to society. Theprotocol is thoroughly reviewed by the IACUC, including a veterinary review. Theresearch or teaching cannot commence untilthe review process is complete and theIACUC has approved the study.

Cornell’s faculty and their research personnel,including students—even students takingcourses that involve the use of animals—arerequired to have training in the care and useof research animals before commencing withanimal use. The 300 animal-care technicians,who care for animals every day, are trainedto recognize any signs of injury, ill health,or abnormal behavior and to alert a CAREveterinarian immediately if needed.

An Essential ProgramThe safe, humane, and judicious use of animalsis imperative for advancing human and animal health. We consider all alternativesto the use of animals in research, but mustrely on live animals as appropriate models

in many situations. An effective and appro-priate animal care and use program isessential to this purpose. Cornell’s faculty,staff, and students are committed to the university’s goal of providing the best possible animal care and use to carry outthe university’s mission of research, teaching,and outreach, while ensuring optimal animalhealth and well-being. At Cornell, we under-stand that using animals is a serious matter.

Michele Bailey, Associate Vice Provost CARE/Laboratory Animal Services

For more information:Cornell University Policy 1.4: Care and Use ofAnimals in Research and Teachingwww.policy.cornell.edu/vol1_4.cfm

The Use of Animals in Research and Teachingat Cornellwww.research.cornell.edu/care/Documents/AnimalRes_screen1.pdf

CAREwww.research.cornell.edu/care

IACUC www.research.cornell.edu/iacuc

Facilities for animalsused in biomedical andbehavioral research are among the mostexpensive researchspaces to build(approximately $700per gross square foot)and to operate.

INFO

Animal ResearchFacilities

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enski-Roberts

In the 1860s cats forcomparative anatomyclasses were kept inthe basement ofMcGraw Hall alongsidethe janitor’s quarters.Uncle Josh (the janitor)had to wear ankletsof flypaper to keepthe fleas away!

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UniversityPhotography