Royan International Research Award - Royan Institute

ANNUAL REPORTROYAN I n s t i t u t eThe primary aim of the Laboratory Animal Facility is to ensure that the three Rs are followed in practice.Within this unit, scientists responsible for the design of animal experiments must be graduated from one of thebiomedical science fields. Additionally, scientists in this unit must have taken a course on laboratory animalscience which concentrates on the humane and careful use of animals, and have included information on thealternatives and ethical aspects of animal experimentation.The mission of the department is to discover and disseminatenew knowledge about the biology and management oflaboratory animals with the vision of expanding knowledge inlaboratory animal sciences.Common goals of the department• To provide researchers with a relevant education andenable them to achieve scientific pre-eminence in selectedareas as well as to produce and support laboratory animalsrequired for research• To manage the Animal Care and Use Program of theInstitute• To supervise the overall program of laboratory animalhousing and care• To manage a preventive medicine program for diseasecontrol• To advise the research staff on all aspects of the experimentaluse of animals, including experimental design, surgical,pre- and post-operative care, and experimental techniquesThe Research Farm at Royan Institute began their activities onanimals at the Jihad Research Complex in 2006. This centerwas equipped with a laboratory and operating room for embryotransfer and other specific operations.The main approaches and accomplishments of this center• Transgenic goats carrying human factor IX gene wereproduced by nuclear transfer in January 2010• Birth of the first IVM-IVF goat in Iran• Birth of the first IVM-IVF lamb in IranThis center is also trying to enhance or improve its technologyand equipment to meet the research needs of the Institute.The Primate Research Center was established in 2007 inconjunction with Loghman Hospital. Within this Center areindividual and public maintenance rooms, a laboratory andoperating room.This Center is a unique resource for the study of human healthand disease which offers the opportunity to access the causesof diseases and new treatment methods in nonhuman primatemodels that closely recapitulate humans.84