Institute for Comparative Medicine
The Institute for Comparative Medicine (ICM) provides husbandry and care for animal models utilized in preclinical research at Columbia University. All research activities conducted in the ICM facilities are reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for compliance with state and federal laws. ICM is also accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, a private non-profit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of animals in biomedical research.
Services
ICM staff includes veterinary medical specialists on call 24/7, veterinary technicians, aquatics specialists, behaviorists, and animal care staff to provide a variety of services, including:
Husbandry
Most of ICM facilities are Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) areas, but high-barrier areas for specific models, including immunodeficient mouse strains, are available. Researchers interested in accessing these areas should contact ICM(link sends e-mail).
Mouse Neurobehavioral Studies
ICM provides a broad array of behavioral phenotyping tests, including but not limited to tests for neonatal development, ultrasonic vocalizations, sensory and motor functions, circadian activity, social behaviors, social communication, and complex cognitive functions. Researchers also have access to automated digital ventilated cage (DVC) that tracks activities 24/7, and an innovative AI-based instrument for studying complex behaviors and neurodegenerative phenotypes. Specialized staff offers researchers support through the all stages of neurobehavioral experiments, from literature review and experimental design to data analysis and manuscript writing assistance.
Specialized Equipment & Animal Imaging
Through ICM, researchers have access to specialized equipment including ultrasound, digital radiography, fluoroscopy, and MouseOx. ICM also works closely with the Oncology Precision Therapeutics and Imaging Core (OPTIC) for services designed to monitor tumor progression and drug efficacy.
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
ICM offers a wide array of laboratory tests, including hematology & blood chemistry, complete blood count with differential count, cytology services and reviews by veterinary board-certified pathologists.