Recognizing the Role of Laboratory Animal Technicians
Between January 27 and February 2, 2019, Einstein recognized its 45 dedicated animal care technicians, whose care of laboratory animals is vital to research at the College of Medicine. The week of appreciation culminated with luncheon, held in the Price Center/Block Research Pavilion, featured a smorgasbord of great food, fun presentations, and a game of “Research Family Feud.”
“Animal technicians are critical to the work many of our researchers do at Einstein, because it’s essential that laboratory animals are well-cared for in a good environment.” said Lawrence Herbst, Ph.D., D.V.M., director of Einstein’s Institute for Animal Studies (IAS) as well as professor of pathology and of microbiology & immunology. “Our caretakers look at every animal on campus daily and, if there is a problem, bring it to the attention of the principle investigator and veterinary technicians servicing those animals.”
Healthy animals deliver quality research data, and animal technicians in the IAS are committed to delivering exceptional service. They work collaboratively with researchers and offer day-to-day operational support, working with species ranging from zebrafish to mammals.
Along with feeding, watering, and maintaining clean habitats for research animals, technicians are the key observers of the general health for animals under their care, as well as the environmental conditions of animals’ facilities.
The National Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences created National Laboratory Animal Technician Week in 1999 to celebrate laboratory animal technicians across the country for their essential contributions as members of biomedical research teams. “There’s no doubt that our research community appreciates the many contributions that our caretakers make on a daily basis,” noted Carmine Bianco, operations manager of the IAS. “It’s great that we can acknowledge their importance to the research our investigators do.”
Posted on: Wednesday, April 24, 2019