About the Biomedical Research Facility
The Biomedical Research Facility (BRF) spans three sites at the University of Southampton, offering state-of-the-art experimental facilities, breeding colony maintenance and research support.
Animal experimentation underpins many Faculty of Medicine and School of Biological Sciences (SoBS) research projects, across a diverse range of subjects including:
- cancer
- developmental biology
- immunology
- nutrition
- neurosciences
- tissue regeneration
- respiratory sciences
The BRF is central to the translation of discovery science at UoS, and at least 10 agents have entered clinical trials due directly to research conducted in the BRF.
The work we do is governed by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (1986), and under the authority of the University of Southampton’s Establishment Licence, which is regularly audited by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit from within the Home Office.
Our facility is fully staffed by dedicated animal technicians and a highly experienced management team including a Veterinary Surgeon and Compliance Officer.
We offer advice and assistance with:
- obtaining project and personal licences
- costing for grant applications
- experimental design
- ethical review
- the conduct of experiments, including the provision of training in core techniques
- experimental procedures
We breed over 50 transgenic mouse lines in our specific pathogen free (SPF) facility, to which all new lines are introduced by rederivation from embryos. We also offer sperm cryopreservation, storage and rederivation of frozen lines by in vitro fertilisation as a service.
