Directors: Derek McLean   Contact Information: Derek McLean - 509-335-8759 - dmclean@wsu.edu Nada Cummings -509- 335-7308 - nscummings@wsu.edu   Outline of Services The Animal Reproduction Core provides centralized facilities, services and expertise on handling and housing laboratory and domestic animals used by members of the Center for Reproductive Biology in accomplishing their research objectives. Services such as animal handling, cannulation, blood collection, tissue collection at either the university's abattoir or commercial packing plants will be aided by this core. The Core Director and a core technician associated with the Director's laboratory provide coordination. The facilities, equipment, and animals of this core are incorporated into the Department of Animal Sciences animal facilities to capitalize on the expertise and efficiency of this already established unit. Specific services are as follows: (1) Obtaining animals to conduct research. A request for animals for research purposes will be given to the core technician who will either purchase these animals or utilize animals already available within the institution. A set per diem will be paid by the investigator. (2) Training will be provided for procedures to those individuals needing the knowledge to conduct their research. The core technician will also be available to aid in collecting data of this nature. (3) Collection of tissue from abattoirs. The core technician will aid in collection of tissues from commercial or university abattoir. (4) Collecting data from cooperator research animal facilities, ranches or dairies in the Pacific Northwest. The core technician will be responsible for aiding and contacting and collecting data at cooperator animal facilities ranches and dairies.   Administration Dr. McLean is responsible for Core administration with the assistance of the Core Technician. Dr. McLean conducts monthly meetings with Core personnel to discuss problems and progress.   Costs There is a $10.00 service fee that is charged to each requesting individual whenever specimens are retrieved whether they are a CRB member or not. Costs of actual tissues vary depending on what abattoir is used. Some places do not charge for items but some do and cost ranges from $5.00 to $100. Service fee, travel, and per diem expenses are charged even if the requested tissues are items that were not available.   Facility/Equipment The core provides coolers to transport materials and bags or vials are included to aid in transport of the items. The core provides safety equipment to be worn by the lab technician when in facilities (lab coat, rubber boots, hard hat, gloves, etc.) and knives when needed to remove excess tissue. Additional or special equipment needs to be provided by the requesting lab. The Animal Reproduction Core has worked with seven slaughter facilities in Washington and two in Idaho. Collected animal materials are then stored in the freezers in the Animal Sciences Department until needed. This storage is available for short-term periods only and investigators are asked to prepare space for the materials as soon as possible.
		For more information and/or feedback send mail to: crb@mail.wsu.edu .