EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS

ORus, supported by the Instituto Universitario de Oftalmología Aplicada (IOBA) of the University of Valladolid, in collaboration with the department of Medical, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy of the University of Leon, offers its services to enterprises or scientific groups, for biomedical research development in ophthalmology and visual science.

In ORus, we ensure to count on with qualified personnel with a wide experience in developing animal models for research in ophthalmology and visual sciences. Any proposed or described model in the literature, just like any other clinical trial for animal or human medicine, could be performed in our facilities. The use of animals follows the recommendations of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research.

Furthermore, studies have to be approved (RD 53/2013), prior to its inception, by the Ethics Committee in Experimentation and Animal Welfare of the University of Valladolid or the University of Leon, and then by the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry of the Junta de Castilla y Leon, whose regulation adjusts to the current European Union legislation.

Ocular Surgery

We have entirely equipped operating rooms to carry out complex surgical procedures related to the ophthalmology field, (including anterior segment surgery, vitreoretinal surgery and refractive surgery), in addition we have anaestethic and monitoring equipment suitable for each species.

Animal species and lodging

A wide range of animal species are offered, including: mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, gerbil, rabbit, chicken, sheep, pig, cat, dog, cow and horse. For its housing and maintenance, multiple individual units, fully equipped and adapted to each species are offered.

Diagnostic Imaging

A fully equipped X-ray room, ocular echography and a 3 Tesla Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), supplemented with a wide range of antennas are available, which makes possible the obtaining of high resolution images.

OCULAR STUDIES
  • Ultrasonography and biometry
  • Keratometry and pachymetry
  • Tonometry
  • Ocular fundus assessment and photography
  • Electroretinogram
  • Fluorescein angiography
OTHER STUDIES
  • Ocular histopathology: by optical, confocal and electron microscopy.
  • Cellular and organotypic cultures: possibility of testing drugs and other substances in animal or human cell lines (IOBA-NHC, hRPE) and ocular tissues.
  • Pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies: Protein and drug level determination in ocular tissues.
  • Flow cytometry
  • Other biological studies: Western-blot, Luminex…
  • Biostatistics services: performed by qualified staff with a large experience in the mentioned topics
  • Neuroretina organotypic culture
  • Double and triple layered co-culture model
  • Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (Intravitreal platelet-rich plasma)
  • Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (Intravitreal platelets)
  • Autologous translocation of retinal pigment epithelium-choroid graft
  • Endophthalmitis (Intravitreal S. aureus)
  • Fresh retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells
  • Fresh retinal stem cells (RSCs) from ciliary margin
  • Chronic-Inflammatory Ocular Surface (SV-40 immortalized human corneal epithelial
  • (HCE) cell line)
  • Limbal stem cell deficiency (Pig)
  • Limbal stem cell deficiency (Rabbit)
  • Toxicology and Safety
  • Matching preclinical studies to clinical strategy
  • Full project management and study conduct
  • Strategic alliances with labs