Lab Animal/Comparative Medicine

Catalog description

This rotation will provide an opportunity to work with the wide variety of animal species used in biomedical research at the University of Pennsylvania, including nonhuman primates, small rodents, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and sheep. The students will participate in all aspects of the care and treatment of these animals across the facilities at the University of Pennsylvania. Participation may include handling, husbandry, diagnosis, treatment, anesthesia, and assistance with surgery. Students will perform daily rounds with the clinical veterinarians and other staff members. The student may have the opportunity to observe on-going interdisciplinary research programs including cardiopulmonary bypass, organ transplantation, gene therapy, device implantations, and metabolic disease progression. Students will participate in clinical rounds, didactic training classes, and related seminars and journal clubs as scheduled. Participation in necropsies of clinical cases, sentinel animals, and study animals is expected. A brief assignment on aspects of lab animal medicine will be required prior to completion of the rotation. Depending upon scheduling, the students will have an opportunity to attend a meeting of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. A recent (within 6 months) negative skin test against tuberculosis is required by the first day of the rotation.