Agenda are excited to exclusively represent UID Identification Solutions in the UK and Ireland, a leader in RFID technology and software that helps researchers generate high-quality data faster and more accurately. This partnership marks a significant step forward in enhancing lab efficiency and automation.
UID’s comprehensive suite of products not only automates data collection but also optimises workflow efficiency, streamlining processes for improved lab productivity. Through advanced tracking and ID capabilities, your facility can ensure greater accuracy, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
“Our collaboration with UID Identification Solutions represents a transformative opportunity for research facilities,” said Toby Sanders, Director at Agenda. “By integrating UID’s state-of-the-art RFID technology and software solutions, we aim to support Establishments in achieving seamless data management and workflow optimisation.”
With UID’s innovative technology and Agenda’s commitment to providing high-quality solutions, this partnership will help research institutions to operate more efficiently and effectively. Here are some of the products that UID can offer –
For more information about any of these products, please visit https://www.uidevices.com/ or follow the UID LinkedIn page to stay up to date. Contact James Cardwell, james.cardwell@agenda-rm.co.uk with any sales enquiries.
Agenda are thrilled to announce that we are now working in partnership with The Learning Curve, a well-established training provider specialising in animal science. This exciting partnership provides you with rapid access to industry-leading training delivered by highly qualified, respected, and proven mentors in this field.
The Learning Curve offers a range of flexible learning options, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all participants. Training is available via live webinars, online courses, or in-house sessions at your own premises, catering to various learning preferences and schedules.
“Our collaboration with The Learning Curve marks a significant milestone in our commitment to being your complete support partner in life sciences. Agenda’s aim is to be your one-stop shop for all things life sciences.” said Toby Sanders, Director “We are excited to provide an unparalleled opportunity to learn from the best in the industry.”
With their focus on expertise and practical application, The Learning Curve’s training courses are designed to equip learners with the latest insights and skills needed to excel in the dynamic field of animal science.
Courses offered include –
For more information about The Learning Curve and see the increasing range of courses, follow them on LinkedIn or contact James Cardwell, james.cardwell@agenda-rm.co.uk for more information.
A Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) is a specially qualified vet who works in Establishments where animal research is undertaken. The main job of an NVS is to advise on the health and welfare of animals being used in research. They provide veterinary care, offer guidance on animal welfare, ensure regulatory compliance, and train staff on animal health issues.
Health and Welfare
An NVS regularly checks on the animals to ensure they are healthy and not in pain, providing treatments and medications if needed, just like you vet would for a pet. They conduct routine health examinations, monitoring behaviour and physical conditions to identify any signs of illness, injury, or distress early on.
Advice
An NVS advises scientists on proper animal handling and care, suggesting ways to keep research comfortable and stress-free for the animals. They’ll also advise on how to create a comfortable and enriching environment for the animals, including appropriate cage sizes, bedding, and enrichment activities to keep the animals engaged.
Harm
An NVS will assess what kind of harm might come to the animals during the research. They look at things like pain, stress, and any possible injuries. Their goal is to minimise these harms. For example, if an experiment might cause pain, the NVS will suggest using pain relief for the animals.
Benefit
An NVS evaluates the potential benefits of the research and weighs these benefits against the harms to decide if the research should go ahead. They make sure the research has a good chance of leading to important discoveries, like new medicines or treatments that can help humans and animals.
Ensure Compliance:
Under ASPA, Animals (Science Procedures) Act, all Scientific research establishments require a Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) to advise on the health and welfare of animals being used in research.
What is a Barrier in a Laboratory?
A barrier in a laboratory research facility is a physical separation designed to protect both the animals and the research. It acts like a shield to keep the environment inside the barrier clean and free from outside contaminants, like germs and dust.
Protecting the Animals
Barriers keep research animals healthy by preventing them from being exposed to diseases or germs that might come from outside the lab. This is especially important for animals that are used in experiments, as they need to be in a controlled environment to ensure accurate results.
Protecting the Research
Barriers also protect the integrity of the research. If the animals were to get sick from an outside germ, it could mess up the experiment and make the results unreliable. By keeping the environment sterile, researchers can be more confident that their results are due to the experiment itself, not an outside factor.
Harm Reduction
By using barriers, laboratories can significantly reduce the harm to animals. Keeping the environment clean and controlled helps prevent illnesses and stress, ensuring that the animals are as healthy and comfortable as possible. This reduces the need for additional treatments or interventions that could cause further harm or stress to the animals.
Benefit Enhancement
A clean, controlled environment enhances the benefits of the research. Reliable and accurate results from experiments can lead to important discoveries, such as new medicines or treatments that can improve human and animal health. This means that the research can provide significant benefits without being compromised by outside contaminants.
Examples of Barriers
What is an Animal Technician?
An Animal Technician is someone who cares for and manages animals used in research, ensuring the animals are happy, healthy, and well-cared for every day.
Daily Care
The Animal Technician feeds the animals, gives them water, and cleans their cages or living spaces. They make sure the animals have everything they need to live comfortably. Some projects may require changes to this. For example, animals performing behaviour tasks might not have access to food or water for a short period.
Health Monitoring
Animal Technicians regularly check the animals to make sure they are healthy. If they notice anything wrong, like if an animal is sick or hurt, they report it to the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) or another specialist. Because they know their animals so well, they can notice even very small issues.
Record Keeping
They keep detailed records of each animal, including what they eat, how they behave, and any health issues. This helps scientists track the animals’ well-being and make sure the research project is going smoothly.
Assisting with Research
Animal Technicians help scientists with their experiments by handling the animals carefully and making sure they are treated well during the research. They provide valuable information to the scientists and veterinarians, helping them make informed decisions about the care and use of the animals.
An Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) is a caring committee found in all UK research institutions. AWERB’s job is to make sure that animals involved in scientific research are treated kindly and respectfully, aiming to minimise any harm or distress they might experience.
Review Research Proposals
AWERB look at research proposals and perform a harm/benefit analysis. This means they weigh up the potential benefits of the research (like medical advancements) against the potential harm to the animals (like pain or distress). The research can only go ahead if the benefits outweigh the harms.
Assess Animal Welfare
They review how the animals will be housed, fed, and cared for, to ensure the animals experience as little pain and stress as possible. This includes ensuring that the number of animals used is minimised and that the least invasive methods are employed.
Monitor Ongoing Research
Once the research is approved and begins, AWERB monitors it to make sure everything is done according to plan and that animals are being treated well. AWERB offers guidance to researchers on best practices for animal care and use, helping them refine their methods to be more humane.
Promote Alternatives
They encourage the use of alternatives to animal testing whenever possible, such as computer models or cell cultures. In the UK, no animal can be used for research if a Non-Animal Alternative is an option. Licence applicants must prove that this the case to be granted ethical approval from the AWERB.
Ensure Compliance:
All research conducted in the UK must follow the following national laws and ethical guidelines:
ASRU (Animals in Science Regulation Unit)
This is a part of the UK government that oversees the use of animals in research. ASRU ensures that the rules and regulations are followed.
ASPA (Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986)
This is the UK law that regulates the use of animals in scientific research. AWERB makes sure that all research complies with ASPA, which sets out the legal requirements for the care and use of animals in research.
Agenda’s Facility Management team understand the balance between advancing biomedical research, whilst upholding the highest possible standards of animal welfare. We provide a comprehensive range of in-vivo facility management services designed to enhance your research outcomes whilst maintaining the well-being of research animals. Our services focus on optimising both lab conditions and animal care, using advanced technologies and best practices to streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and maintain rigorous ethical standards.
There are many ways our solutions can make a significant difference:
Through our comprehensive range of facility management services, we can streamline your research operations. By taking care of regulatory compliance to ensure your facility meets all legal requirements, we significantly reduce the burden on your team. Our staff management services simplify HR processes by offering complete in-vivo team management, including hiring, resourcing, temporary staffing, performance management, and occupational health support, ensuring you always have the right expertise for your research. We centralise procurement for equipment and supplies, saving you time and money. Our cost recovery solutions optimise the use of your facility to further alleviate any financial strain. For facility maintenance, we provide expert decommissioning and recommissioning services with minimal disruption to your research activities.
By managing these areas, we enable you to focus on your research objectives, with the constant assurance of the efficient and effective management of your facility.
Providing outstanding animal welfare is at the core of our in-vivo facility management service. We are committed to upholding the highest ethical and regulatory standards, as well as providing exceptional animal care. We understand that strict adherence to welfare guidelines is essential for the integrity and reliability of research, ensuring that it always remains ethical, reproducible, and reliable.
Our comprehensive services include regulatory compliance support to help your in-vivo research facility meet all legal and ethical requirements to safeguard animal welfare and support ethical research practices. We also offer staff management to ensure that personnel are well-trained to maintain high standards of care. Our procurement processes can equip your facility with the latest resources necessary for proper animal care, whilst our biological deep cleaning services ensure a sterile environment, crucial for disease prevention and animal well-being.
By implementing these practices, Agenda can help in-vivo research facilities excel in their work whilst maintaining the highest standards of animal care.
Our in-vivo facility management services boost both research capabilities and animal welfare standards. Our compliance management services ensure that your facility adheres to all legal requirements, providing all named persons and expert advice to secure faster approval times for new PPLs. We offer comprehensive project management, overseeing facility renovations, expansions, and relocations with minimal disruption to your research whilst ensuring full legal compliance. With the expertise and experience of our skilled team of professional veterinarians, researchers, facility managers and compliance team, we can ensure the seamless operation of your facility, enabling you to achieve superior research outcomes.
At Agenda, our comprehensive in-vivo facility management services are bespoke to your specific needs and requirements, allowing you to focus on your research knowing the logistics of your operations are in safe hands.
We are committed to delivering quality, compliance, and cost-effectiveness, making us the ideal partner for supporting your vital in-vivo research.
By partnering with our experienced team, you can ensure the seamless operation of your laboratory that meets the highest standard of regulatory compliance and animal welfare. Get in touch with us today to find out how our in-vivo facility management services can boost your research.
At Agenda Facilities Management, we are quality-orientated, compliance-focused, and importantly, cost-effective. We understand that maintaining the seamless operation of your laboratory to support vital in-vivo research requires meticulous planning, regulatory compliance, a deep understanding of animal welfare, and reliable facility management. We pride ourselves on being an ideal partner for providing facility management solutions for your in-vivo research, whilst also delivering unbeatable affordability and savings through a range of services.
Agenda Facility Management’s solutions are always tailored to your specific needs and requirements, allowing you to focus on your research knowing the logistics of your operations are in safe hands.
Our wide range of services encompasses:
By partnering with Agenda to assist with your in-vivo facility management, you can not only save money, but streamline your processes, and optimise your resources.
Our in-vivo facility management can deliver savings through a comprehensive range of services, enabling your team to focus on their core activities. Some further key benefits of our range of services include:
The expertise and experience of our skilled team of professional veterinarians, researchers, and facility managers ensure the seamless operation of our facilities.
If you’re looking for a short or long-term place to conduct in-vivo research, Agenda has space available to rent on a contract or PAYG basis. Each of our in-vivo research suites boasts advanced infrastructure that meets the highest industry standards and comes fully equipped with specialist laboratories, animal housing units, and surgical suites- giving you more for your money as standard.
At Agenda, we integrate the latest equipment within our research facilities, to ensure that you can affordably have access to the latest, cutting-edge technology to continually advance your research.
We understand running in-vivo facilities significantly below capacity makes cost recovery impossible. Equally, finding users for your surplus capacity is time-consuming and difficult to approach without an established network. If you have the capacity, we have the contacts.
Our ‘Welfare First’ program prioritises animal welfare and supports the dedicated people working with animals. This nurtures a culture of care in the life sciences sector, exceeding regulatory standards.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of having a trusted partner manage your in-vivo research facility, our team of experts at Agenda Facility Management is ready to assist you. Contact us to learn more about our affordable in-vivo facility management services and how we can help.
A Facility Management solution from Agenda provides you with a full-service offering – not only staffing your research facility, and delivering regulatory compliance, but also maintaining your equipment. We do this on your behalf whilst providing you with the reassurance that your day-to-day facility operations are taken care of. This turnkey service allows you and your teams to focus on delivering your research.
A facility management partnership for your Establishment can streamline processes, optimise your resources, and save you time and money. In-vivo facility management can deliver savings through a comprehensive range of services, enabling your team to focus on their core activities.
Areas of support can include:
Meeting regulatory requirements is critical for laboratory facilities, from securing necessary licences to advising on licensing requirements. Agenda’s Meticulous knowledge of regulatory compliance ensures smooth operations and reduces the risk of interrupted research.
Efficient procurement processes help Establishments Acquire the necessary equipment and consumables while keeping a lid on costs. We can streamline your procurement by utilising trusted suppliers, negotiating discounted rates, reducing financial strain, and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
The financial sustainability of laboratory facilities is dependent on efficient cost recovery. Facility management services can find opportunities to utilise surplus capacity while establishing collaboration and resource-share networks. This can offset operational costs and can enhance revenue streams.
Carefully handling laboratory infrastructure changes and transitions is essential to ensure minimal downtime and cost savings. We can provide a range of services from site clearance and waste management to equipment decontamination and repurposing. With the right support in place, facilities can navigate transitions smoothly while preparing for future operations.
Exacting hygiene standards and biological decontamination is critical for maintaining a clean and safe laboratory environment. In-vivo facility management will often prioritise effective decontamination techniques and post-decontamination validation, ensuring compliance with hygiene standards and protecting the integrity of the research.
Research continuity depends on the safe and secure transportation of laboratory animals. Professional transport services can handle packing, loading, transportation, and delivery, ensuring animal welfare throughout.
Comprehensive facility management service from Agenda Facilities Management enables you to focus on your research, knowing the day-to-day operations of your in-vivo facility are being taken care of.
Our bespoke, flexible, and scalable operational support allows you to build your own service provision from a range of key services.
Contact us to learn more about our life facility management services and how we can help.
Regulatory Expertise
By engaging Agenda to support your in-vivo research activities, you will benefit from the Agenda team’s breadth of expertise ranging from compliance under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1996 (as amended) and other regulatory frameworks (including UK Good Laboratory Practice), to veterinary sciences, pharmacokinetics and drug discovery. Agenda’s proven track record of positive regulatory and industry audit outcomes provides assurance of our commitment to excellence in governance.
Proven Experience
You will also benefit from the expertise of a team with a proven record in successfully commissioning and managing specialist multi-species animal research facilities. We currently manage a range of facilities in the UK, including academic institutions, pharma, and multi-tenant arrangements.
Agenda understand the sensitivity surrounding in vivo research, and will ensure that any confidential materials shared are appropriately handled. We offer consultancy covering a wide range of subjects, from compliance and audits, to people and culture development. Find out more about the support we can offer here.
Located within Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park, Agenda’s In-Vivo Research Facility supports our clients to allow cutting-edge research to be carried out. But, what exactly awaits within the walls of the facility? Take a look at our 360º tour of the facility.
Whether your research calls for an in-vivo surgery suite, high-tech bio-imaging suite or a specialised procedural suite, we provide dedicated spaces for a variety of research areas – each meticulously equipped to meet the specific demands of our customers – all under one roof.
In-vivo research requires meticulous planning, regulatory compliance, and a deep understanding of animal welfare. This is where Agenda’s team of experienced professionals steps in to take the weight off your shoulders. Our facility management expertise encompasses everything from regulatory liaison and equipment maintenance to waste disposal and animal husbandry. You can focus on your research, knowing the logistical details are in safe hands.
Home to over 250 companies and 2,500 innovators within the biotech, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, Alderley Park has over one million sq ft of high-specification lab and office space. With excellent transport links, including a dedicated shuttle bus to local rail stations, the campus also features a sports complex with a gym and outdoor sports pitches.
Agenda’s in-vivo facility sits right in the heart of this innovation ecosystem, granting researchers immediate access to a wealth of collaborative opportunities, specialist suppliers, and cutting-edge technologies.
If you’re interested in outsourcing your research and would like to explore how using one of Agenda’s facilities can help you, contact Agenda Facility Management today. Our team of experts are eager to help you achieve your research goals.
Ensuring the seamless operation of your laboratory requires reliable facility management support. At Agenda Facility Management, we pride ourselves on being your ideal partner for overseeing the intricate needs of your life sciences laboratory.
Our extensive suite of services, coupled with a proven track record in the industry, positions us as the trusted choice for delivering research support. With a wealth of expertise, years of experience, and an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, we are dedicated to assisting you in reaching and exceeding your research goals.
Our wide range of services, tailored to your specific requirements, encompasses:
Compliance Management: Ensuring that your laboratory adheres to all relevant regulatory requirements, including animal welfare, environmental safety, and waste management regulations.
Equipment Management: Our team of experts maintains and calibrates your laboratory equipment, ensuring optimal performance and extending the lifespan of your assets.
Facility Maintenance: Agenda maintains all of our laboratory facilities to the highest standards, including HVAC systems, plumbing, and electrical systems, to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment.
Project Management: Our experienced project managers oversee the planning, execution, and completion of laboratory renovations, expansions, and relocations, minimising disruptions to your research activities.
Reduced costs: By outsourcing your facility management to Agenda, you can eliminate the need for in-house expertise and resources, leading to significant cost savings.
Improved efficiency: Agenda’s experienced team streamlines your facility management processes, ensuring that your laboratory operates at peak efficiency.
Enhanced compliance: Agenda’s expertise in regulatory compliance ensures that your laboratory meets all applicable standards, minimising the risk of fines and penalties.
Peace of mind: With Agenda managing your facility, you can focus on your core research activities, knowing that your facilities are in expert hands.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of having a trusted partner manage your laboratory facilities, contact Agenda Facility Management today. Our team of experts is eager to help you achieve your research goals.