The Research Animal Center at UMBC in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences is a vivarium facility housing and supporting research animal science, training, and resources for the life sciences faculty.
The UMBC Research Animal Center (RAC) is a state-of-the-art, centrally managed facility designed to support a wide range of biomedical and life science research. Spanning approximately 11,000 square feet across primary and satellite locations, the RAC provides specialized housing and research environments for various laboratory species, including rodents (mice and rats), zebrafish, and avian species.
The main vivarium is located in the basement of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building, which opened in December 2020. This 7,300 gross square-foot facility includes nine holding rooms and twelve procedure rooms for the care and use of experimental rodents. It is designed to house over 3,550 mouse cages and 240 rat cages at full capacity, utilizing individually ventilated cages (IVCs) to ensure optimal airflow and pathogen control.
Our animal care and use program adheres to the highest standards set by the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), and we maintain an active Animal Welfare Assurance. Veterinary services are provided by licensed professionals through In-House Veterinary Services, ensuring comprehensive animal welfare oversight. Daily husbandry is carried out by a dedicated team of full-time animal care technicians in collaboration with research staff. Investigators benefit from seamless operational support, including study planning, protocol development, and compliance assistance, all within a secure and well-regulated environment.
The RAC is equipped to support a full spectrum of research workflows with advanced infrastructure such as in vivo imaging (IVIS), micro-CT, fluorescence imaging, x-ray irradiation, and colony management services. A robust sentinel health monitoring program and continuous environmental monitoring ensure optimal animal health and facility conditions.
Key Features:
- Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) housing with automated watering systems and individually ventilated cage (IVC) racks
- ABSL-2 containment suites for infectious disease and microbiome studies
- Quarantine and satellite holding rooms for animals returning from laboratories
- Environmental control rooms for high- and low-temperature housing
- Automated cage wash facilities (clean and dirty sides)
- Secure feed and bedding storage areas
- Dedicated surgical and necropsy procedure rooms
- Neurobehavioral testing suites
- Transgenic facility
Location: Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building
For any queries: Sridhar Samineni