Rapid Quarantine: Accelerating Model Access for Better Research

About this Webinar:

Sharing research animals between institutions is a critical component of research, especially for genetically engineered models that are not commercially available. However, these animals are of varying health statuses, requiring a mandatory quarantine period to prevent infectious outbreaks.

We are utilizing a Rapid Quarantine process that allows rodent models to be assessed directly upon arrival utilizing a PCR-based surveillance process. After initial sampling upon arrival and unpacking, the animals are not manipulated again until the time of shipment, minimizing handling and bio-security risks.

Test results are supplied to the receiving veterinarian or import coordinator within 7-10 days. Animals arrive at our facility, are tested, cleared, and shipped out again all within three weeks. The Rapid Quarantine procedure dramatically accelerates the quarantine process in comparison to traditional quarantine programs that often extend much longer.

Over the past 10 years, we have processed 351 cohorts where animals were sampled upon arrival and resampled 2 weeks later. Every single one of those cohorts had the same health status from both sample collections. These results show that our Rapid Quarantine procedure can successfully identify the health status of animals upon arrival. This refined approach, utilizing a single assessment upon arrival, minimizes the time needed for quarantining animals, while confidently identifying problematic agents in a shortened period. We have shown, with a decade of validation, that PCR-based testing upon arrival is a sound method to quarantine animals, while dramatically reducing the time and impact on the animals and the research. 

About our Presenter:

Dr. Chris Dowdy is the Associate Director of Scientific Development for Research Models and Services (RMS) at Charles River. He provides scientific support for the contract breeding group and for the development of new models. He also oversees the CRISPR-based Model Creation service in North America.  

Chris is a molecular biologist with experience ranging from generating and characterizing animal models to large-scale automation, genotyping, and sequencing.  

Before joining Charles River in 2016, Chris worked for Beckman Coulter Genomics, focusing on nucleic acid extraction, sequencing and automation. He earned a BS degree in Biology and Literature from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2006 and received his PhD in Biomedical Science from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2012.