The National Experimental Biology Laboratory (NEBL) provides animal care and housing services to the university community and private companies. Its qualified personnel (preclinical scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians) also offer preclinical research expertise on a multitude of animal species, including the development of new vaccines and drugs against emerging or progressive diseases.
The NEBL is the only laboratory at a Canadian university to be accredited by both the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).
Facility description
The NEBL is one of only a handful of animal facilities in Quebec. It is located on the campus of the Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS).
Located within the Biotech City in Laval, this state-of-the-art facility is accredited for biomedical and preclinical research. The research conducted at the NEBL is subject to rigorous supervision and is carried out in full compliance with international standards on the protection and living conditions of animals, as well as environmental protection.
The NEBL offers housing services for various species of animals at biosafety levels 1 and 2. It offers its clients a research environment under secure, controlled, and confidential conditions.
The NEBL provides some in-vitroservices in collaboration with external partners. The experienced team is able to support clients in their projects, from the design of exploratory study protocols to the completion of preclinical studies.The NEBL team includes veterinary technicians and scientists with expertise in many aspects of the biological sciences. The team has developed numerous animal models for efficacy and early development studies. It serves both academic and industrial clients.
Data analysis
The NEBL is the only Canadian university research facility to be accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), demonstrating compliance with the internationally recognized standards of the National Research Council’s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Furthermore, it has a mandatory Good Animal Practice accreditation from the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), which has particularly stringent requirements. INRS has also developed an Animal Experimentation Ethics Policy (available in French only). All research protocols in use at the NEBL must therefore be reviewed and approved for compliance with the rules established by the Institutional Animal Care Committee (Comité institutionnel de protection des animaux – CIPA).
Why use animal models in research?
Biomedical research involves multiple steps before a drug or vaccine is brought to market. To evaluate the biological response induced by the drug or vaccine, experimental research very often requires the use of animal models. Given the multitude of physiological interactions involved, in vitro cellular approaches are not yet able to recreate an environment as complex as that of a human or animal body for the study of immune responses to a vaccine or drug.
Animal protection
The INRS Institutional Animal Care Committee (CIPA) is composed of researchers, students, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and members of the public who meet once a month. One of CIPA’s mandates is to ensure that animal experimentation complies with CCAC guidelines and that the staff and students performing the experimentation are adequately trained and follow the procedures and animal care best practices.
Use of large animals
Large animals are used for research only when absolutely necessary. They represent only a tiny fraction of the animals used in research (less than 0.5% at INRS). Because they are intelligent and social, large animals are paired and we avoid housing them alone. Great apes (like chimpanzees and baboons) are not used in research at INRS.
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) provides national oversight of animal-based science in Canada. Every organization that conducts animal research must have an animal care committee.The INRS Institutional Animal Care Committee (CIPA) is composed of researchers, students, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and members of the public who meet once a month. One of the CIPA’s mandates is to ensure that animal experimentation complies with CCAC guidelines and that the staff and student members performing the experiments are adequately trained and follow the procedures and animal care best practices.INRS subscribes to the principles of the 3Rs for ethical decision-making in the use of animals in research: wherever possible, we replace, reduce,and refine.
Animal replacement in research (avoiding or replacing the use of animals)
Reduction in the number of animals used
Refinement of our methods to improve animal comfort
How does INRS contribute to animal research?The preclinical studies carried out by the NEBL team are the second fundamental step in the manufacture of a drug. They allow scientists to understand the drug’s mechanism of action and test its efficacy and toxicity on animals before it is administered to humans, so they can predict its impact on humans as accurately as possible.Why use animals in research?Biomedical research involves multiple steps before a drug or vaccine is brought to market. To evaluate the biological response induced by the drug or vaccine, experimental research very often requires the use of animal models. Given the multitude of physiological interactions involved, in-vitro cellular approaches are not yet able to recreate an environment as complex as that of a human or animal body for the study of immune responses to a vaccine or drug.INRS subscribes to the principles of the 3Rs for ethical decision-making in the use of animals in research: wherever possible, we replace, reduce,and refine.
Animal replacement in research (avoiding or replacing the use of animals)
Reduction in the number of animals used
Refinement of our methods to improve animal comfort
Where do the animals come from?The animals can come from a variety of recognized sources. The animal care committee requires that the provenance of the animals be specified in the protocols and approved by INRS. INRS does not purchase animals from shelters, including the SPCA.
What types of animals are used at INRS?Most of the animals used at INRS are rodents and fish. However, other types of animals may be used depending on the research being carried out. Large animals are used only when absolutely necessary, and represent only a tiny fraction of the animals used in research.
How are the animals housed?Animal housing facilities must meet strict requirements. INRS adheres to the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), which inspects its facilities regularly, at most every three years. These guidelines contain numerous specifications, including space requirements, ventilation, lighting, and cleanliness. CCAC requires independent oversight of these facilities in the form of a facility audit.
What happens to the animals after a research study is over?Depending on the study, the animals may be humanely euthanized or adopted out until the end of their natural life. Most of the animals used at INRS are rodents and fish. The majority are humanely euthanized at the end of a research study. Otherwise, the animals are examined by a veterinarian before being adopted out to a suitable home.
How are the animals euthanized?INRS complies with the humane euthanasia methods required by the Canadian Council on Animal Care. Typically, the animal is sedated or anaesthetized, then given a lethal dose of anaesthetic. This is completely painless for the animal.
How many animals are housed at INRS?The number of animals housed at INRS varies greatly depending on the client and the research in progress. What are the steps involved in getting an animal-based study approved?The study must have scientific merit, i.e., it must be demonstrated to have a scientific purpose. Next, the protocol must be approved by INRS’s Institutional Animal Care Committee (CIPA), which confirms that all steps have been taken to protect the animals.
