Workshop Reports

The Cryopreservation and Other Preservation Approaches for Animal Models Workshop provided a forum for experts to discuss the needs of cryopreservation and other preservation approaches for animal models that are widely used in biomedical research. The discussions focused on the current emerging technologies. The goal of the workshop was to enhance the maintenance and sharing of animal models.

The workshop was organized in six sessions focused on (1) invertebrate models, (2) aquatic models, (3) technologies and training, (4) rodent models, (5) nonhuman primate models, and (6) swine models. The workshop gathered insights and conclusions from experts in the field and led to the release of a workshop report and, potentially, journal article(s). The workshop also allowed refinement of NIH programs on preservation of genetic stocks of animal resources for biomedical research.

• Session I. Cryopreservation and Other Preservation of Invertebrate Models in Biomedical Research, September 6, 2024

Combined Workshop Report

The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) organized this workshop with the support of the following seven NIH Institutes:

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

The workshop served as a forum to discuss the current status of and needs for understanding extrinsic environmental factors, their potential impact on animal research outcomes, as well as how facilities may optimally manage, monitor, and report these extrinsic factors to enhance rigor and reproducibility in animal research. The focus of this workshop was on identifying gaps, opportunities, and new approaches in husbandry of commonly and widely used animal models; measuring and monitoring relevant environmental factors and conditions; and exploring the need for novel instruments, equipment, and infrastructure for animal research core facilities.

• Session 1. Aquatic Animals, September 23, 2022
  • Session 1 Summary
• Session 2. Rodents, September 28, 2022
  • Session 2 Summary
• Session 3. Large Animals (Nonhuman Primates/Swine), September 30, 2022
  • Session 3 Summary
• All Sessions
  • Combined Workshop Report

Final Meeting Report

The biennial Comparative Medicine Resource Directors (CMRD) Meeting is intended to provide a forum for exchange of new information, advances, and ideas; facilitate the development of synergistic working groups, interactions, and collaborations among resources, as well as with National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices; and offer opportunities for sharing experiences, strategies, and best practices to optimize access, use, and administration of resources. The thirteenth CMRD Meeting was held virtually on August 3–4, 2021. The purpose of the 2021 meeting was to form and strengthen new and existing connections, disseminate information about new resources and opportunities to collaborate, expand networks, share COVID-19 experiences, learn about new NIH strategic plans and policies, and reinforce the important roles the CMRD community plays in driving biomedical research.

• Videos Highlighting ORIP Research Resources #1: https://youtu.be/CGpOnty30Uo
• Videos Highlighting ORIP Research Resources #2: https://youtu.be/VK5MM1r_-90

Session X (Summary – Report and Discussion of Sessions I to IX) Meeting Report

The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) presented a virtual workshop on “Validation of Animal Models and Tools for Biomedical Research”. The workshop was organized by ORIP in collaboration with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and was held as a series of sessions from November 17, 2020, to January 19, 2021.

This workshop provided a venue to discuss the status and needs regarding the validation and rigor/reproducibility of animal models used in biomedical research. The focus of this workshop series was on identifying obstacles, technology and resource gaps, and new approaches for assessing the value and limitations of animal models used to address basic science questions and/or to study human diseases.

Sessions:

• I. Validation of Invertebrate Models for Preclinical Research, November 17, 2020
  • Session I Meeting Report
• II. Validation of Zebrafish Models for Preclinical Research, November 24, 2020
  • Session II Meeting Report
• III. Validation of Mouse Models for Preclinical Research, December 1, 2020
  • Session III Meeting Report
• IV. Validation of Large Animal Models for Preclinical Research, December 8, 2020
  • Session IV Meeting Report
• V. Validation of Non-Mouse Models for Preclinical Research, December 10, 2020
  • Session V Meeting Report
• VI. Validation of Nonhuman Primate Models for Preclinical Research, December 15, 2020
  • Session VI Meeting Report
• VII. Validation of Non-Zebrafish Aquatic Models for Preclinical Research, December 17, 2020
  • Session VII Meeting Report
• VIII. Technologies, Phenotyping, and Data Science for Animal Models, January 5, 2021
  • Session VIII Meeting Report
• IX. Vertical Integration Approach for Preclinical Research, January 12, 2021
  • Session IX Meeting Report
• X. Summary – Report and Discussion of Sessions I to IX, January 19, 2021
  • Session X Meeting Report

Workshop Report

The Modernization of Biomedical Research Facilities Workshop was held on August 25, 2020, to gather feedback from the biomedical research community on how modern equipment supports operations and enhances the research-support functionality of shared resource facilities. The discussion was divided into three topics: (1) advanced equipment to improve management through automation of shared facilities, (2) advanced equipment to improve care and maintenance of research animals, and (3) advanced equipment to improve research-supporting functions of core facilities. Throughout the Workshop, several common themes emerged: equipment (e.g., upgrades, maintenance, automated monitoring, and small equipment purchases), data management, coordination across facilities, digitization, and training.

Pre-Meeting Report