Gnotobiotic Animal Core Facility

Overview of Equipment and Services

The Gnotobiotic Animal Core Facility is a BSL2, fee-for-service core that supports research involving germ-free and gnotobiotic mice, enabling studies on the role of specific microorganisms in various phenotypes. The facility offers rental space in germ-free isolators and provides full husbandry services, including microbiota humanization via patient-derived transfers, tumor injections for immunotherapy research, drug and biologic administration, and bone marrow transplants. Assistance with experimental procedures and microbiota association techniques is available upon request. The facility maintains commercially available mouse strains such as C57BL/6, Balb/c, and Swiss-Webster in flexible film isolators to preserve germ-free conditions. Use of the facility requires IACUC approval and is managed on a first-come, first-served basis, with oversight by the Gnotobiotic Committee.

Researchers must submit detailed experiment descriptions to gnotobiotic@pitt.edu at least 30 days in advance to initiate service.

Location and Hours of Operation

Primary: 6023/6026 BST3, 3501 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Primary Sq. Ft: 1195

Days of the Week

Hours open

Monday – Friday

7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Resources

Contacts

Name Role Phone Email Location
Gnotobiotic Core Facility
Facility Contact
 
412-648-4450
 
gnotobio@pitt.edu
 
6023/2026 BST3
 
Timothy Hand, PhD
Faculty Director
 

 
timothy.hand@chp.edu
 
Rangos Research Center, Room 8126
 
Jacob DeSchepper
Core Manager
 

 
Jacob.deschepper@pitt.edu
 
6023/2026 BST3
 
Rick Bookser
Facility Staff
 

 
RJB161@pitt.edu
 
6023/2026 BST3
 

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