About the Rodent Behavior Core

As part of the translational research mission of the University of Kentucky, studies are conducted to discover new knowledge and translate those findings more rapidly to human disease applications. Rodent animal models facilitate these studies in a number of ways, including serving as models of human disease and allowing study of the impact of potential interventions on both physiology and adverse pharmacology outcomes. The analysis of mouse behavior is a critical component of these studies. The goals of the RBC are to serve as a central resource to conduct reliable and validated mouse behavior tests for investigators, to ensure that qualified and trained investigators have access to state-of-the-art behavioral testing instrumentation, and to provide assistance in the design, implementation and analysis of behavioral experiments in mice.

Advisory Committee

Michael Bardo, PhD, Dept Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Linda Dwoskin, PhD, Associate Dean for Research, College of Pharmacy
Greg Gerhardt, PhD, Director, Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center, College of Medicine
Kathryn Saatman, PhD, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine
Olivier Thibault, PhD, Dept Molecular & Biomedical Pharmacology, College of Medicine
Linda Van Eldik, PhD, Director, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine

General Guidelines for RBC Service

If you are interested in submitting your animals for behavioral testing, please submit the RBC Service Request Form to the Core (bohara@email.uky.edu). Once the form has been received you will receive a price quote; for pricing estimates see link to RBC Fee Structure. An initial consultation may be set up with the director if the PI has any questions about specific testing or if the PI is interested in measuring behavior but is not clear on what paradigms to measure. Consultation sessions include guidance on the appropriate age, background, and number of animals to test, as well as the most appropriate tests to use based on the PI’s specific goals. Once the Service Request Form has been received, your animals will be scheduled for behavior. ALL mice will be moved to the Core housing room (Biopharm 043) and will be housed there for 7-10 days prior to the start of testing to acclimate and allow for handling daily by the Core technical personnel who will be performing the behavior tests. Behavioral testing will last from 1-10 days depending on the tests ordered. It should be noted that testing will be longer if a battery of tests have been ordered. After testing is completed, the RBC will contact the PI to collect their data and animals. The Core will provide the raw data to the PI when testing is finalized. If the investigator needs assistance with statistical analysis and data interpretation, a second meeting with the Director can be scheduled.