Experimental Animal Infrastructure

• Rodent Models: Wistar rats and BALB/c mice for extensive preclinical studies.
• Expertise in modeling human diseases, including:
  • Cardiovascular: cardiotoxicity, hypertension, heart failure
  • Metabolic: diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia
  • Neurological: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cognitive impairment
  • Oncology: cancer induction and therapeutic evaluation
  • Hepatic & Renal: hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity
  • Immunological & Infectious: immunosuppression, infectious disease (BSL-2)
  • Inflammatory and Pain Models: arthritis, inflammatory conditions, nociception studies
  • Ophthalmological: diabetic cataract, age-related cataract, conjunctivitis
• Advanced Surgical & Physiological Platforms: Novel surgical models, real-time physiological monitoring, and automated data capture.

Cardiovascular Research Laboratories

• Non-invasive ECG and blood pressure monitoring systems (EMKA Technologies, France; Kent Scientific, USA)
  • Real-time quantitative and qualitative cardiovascular assessment
  • Non-anesthetic, stress-free operation
• Working Heart Apparatus for ex vivo perfusion and cardiac function studies
• Integrated software for high-precision data acquisition and analysis

Pain & Behavioral Research Laboratories

• Automated Pain Assessment: Hargreaves Apparatus (UGO Basile, Italy)
• Behavioral Tracking Platforms: Smart video tracking systems (Pan Lab, Spain)
• Cognitive and behavioral paradigms:
  • Morris Water Maze, Elevated Plus Maze, Open Field, Light-Dark Box
• Enables precise evaluation of learning, memory, anxiety, depression, and exploratory behavior

Biosafety & Diagnostics

• BSL-2 Biosafety Infrastructure: For safe handling of infectious disease models
• Veterinary Hematology Analyzer: 5-part differential CBC testing for anaemia, infection, inflammation, and immune profiling
• Advanced sterilization, animal housing, and environmental control systems

Animal Ethics & Regulatory Oversight

• All research activities are governed by the RAKMHSU Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
• Central Animal Research Facility is licensed by:
  • Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), UAE
  • RAK Environment Protection and Development Authority (EPDA)
• Ensures strict adherence to ethical standards, welfare protocols, and international guidelines for preclinical research

Technical & Animal Care Support

• Highly trained personnel for animal handling, procedural support, surgical assistance, and monitoring
• 24/7 animal welfare monitoring with advanced environmental controls
• Continuous training programs to ensure best practices in preclinical research and animal care

Support Staff: Mr. Ramesh

Activities

• Development and validation of human disease rodent models
• Behavioural, cognitive, and pain research
• Cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, immunological, and oncological studies
• Pharmacological, toxicological, and safety evaluation
• Research training and capacity-building workshops
• National and international collaborative research initiatives