To perform the functional genomics projects, the VRC is currently using 20,000 mice, housed in over 8,000 mouse cages,  spread over different facilities. The VRC has more than 300 active breeding transgenic mouse lines. Distinct facilities are available:

Specific Pathogen Free factility (SPF), directly accessible from the laboratory of VRC, is a state-of-the-art facility, capable of maintaining 1,300 mouse cages in an environment free of infectious agents known to be pathogenic or capable of interfering with research objectives (see also FELASA). Another SPF facility of 1,500 cages is available off campus, at a few km from the VRC research labs (Heverlee). These facilities are equipped with top filter cages, have totally independent air filtration (HVAC) systems, sterile water supplies, autoclaved food supplies, emergency surveillance and highly restricted access. The SPF unit has also 1 microinjection and 1 aggregation lab for the production of transgenic mouse lines. Since 1996, no major infection has occurred in our SPF facilities. A new SPF facility with an extended capacity of 15,000 cages is currentely being built by the KULeuven and will be in use by 2008.

For viral gene transfer studies, the VRC has  access to a Level II Virus Lab. For biosafety reasons, all cages in this facility are IVC (Individual Ventilated Cage) cages with negative air pressure. This area can only be accessed by specific trained caretakers, and researchers.
 
The Conventional Mouse Facility (2,000 cages) is accessible for all researchers and their staff. These animals are also activily monitored, but the health quality requirements are less stringent as compared to the SPF.

Two Quarantine Facilities (190 & 380 cages) house incoming animals, that are screened for their health status. If the hygienic quality is insufficient, animals are prepared for rederivation prior to access into SPF facilities. These rooms are also equipped with IVC racks to prevent cross contamination between mouse strains.

The VRC Mouse Clinic contains 500 IVC cages, which are only used for housing animals enrolled in ongoing experiments.

The VRC Genotyping & Husbandry Core facility provides support and advise for embryo derivation, sperm freezing, (medium-throughput) genotyping, tailing & clipping, husbandry and breeding strategies of colonies, determination of genetic background (satellite marker screens), health screening of mouse strains, etc.

Several knock-out mouse strains are available for collaborations. Feel free to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.