Noelia Do Canto

Responsibilities:

• Murine colony control: Census and evaluation of genotypes in murine strains for harem assembly.
• Biopsies and genotyping.
• PCRs.
• Preparation of agarose gels with SYBR Safe for electrophoresis.
• Spinal cord lesions.
• Postoperative monitoring and assistance.
• Ladder rung walking test.
• Perfusions for tissue fixation.
• Spinal cord dissections.
• Preparation of cross-linked hydrogel blocks and subsequent floating slices on vibratome.
• Tamoxifen inoculations.

Laboratory Management & Compliance

• Responsible for the animal experimentation laboratory.
• Personnel access control to laboratory facilities.
• Review of approved research protocols for the use of laboratory animals.
• Verification of researcher accreditations for animal use in research.
• Development of disinfection and cleaning protocols for SPF clean areas, and contaminated areas.
• Administrative processes: laboratory renovation oversight, inventory and stock control of materials.

Animal Care & Experimental Procedures

• Management and introduction of murine models.
• Monitoring of experimental animals: bedding replacement, medication administration, reporting to researchers on animal condition, and advising on euthanasia and animal welfare.
• Subcutaneous inoculation of melanoma models.
• Inoculations with gamma ionizing radiation (Tc-99m).
• Blood extraction procedures.
• Urine evaluation using Uranotest.
• Dissections and necropsies.

Responsabilities

• Supplying food, water, and medication to experimental animals.
• General cleaning and disinfection of the vivarium (walls, ceilings, doors, tables, and sinks).
• Cleaning and disinfecting animal housing boxes and their components (water bottles, grids, support racks).
• Sieving and sterilizing wood shavings for animal bedding.
• Preparation of housing beds and enrichment for experimental animals.
• Inspection of sanitary condition and handling of animals (bed changes, research-related procedures, euthanasia).
• Registry activities for the breeding and preparation of experimental animals (registration and control of births, weaning, sexing).

• Supplying food, water and medication for hospitalized animals.
• Post-operative monitoring.
• Cleaning enclosures (bed changes).
• Assisting with animal care and handling (rehabilitation and medication procedures).
• Wildlife welfare assessment: weekly evaluation of patient evolution in response to the SPIDER enriching method.
• Coordination of animal assessment and transfer, working alongside professionals from national animal repositories, wildlife reserves, biological institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

• Reception of patients.
• Disinfection of surgical instruments and the work area.
• Shaving of the surgical area on the animal.
• Medication: injections of analgesia, anesthesia, and antibiotics.
• Suturing.
• Post-operative control.