Comparative Medical Science

Mohamed Osman, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director

The Department of Comparative Medical Science is the animal resource center that provides care for the laboratory animals for the scientists in New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry and the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The research programs focus on gaining insight into mechanisms for memory and learning, the evolution of intelligence, the pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurologic diseases and the development of treatments for such diseases.

The animal care staff continues to work hard to provide the highest standard of quality care for the animals we house here at PI. The Continuing Education and Occupational Health Programs are expanding to meet the growing needs of research at the Institute. The emphasis of these continuing education seminars are to heighten the awareness of potential hazardous conditions, ensure maximum safety, focus on the standard operating procedures for the humane use of animals and also the procedures to prevent any infectious diseases that may affect the personnel or the laboratory animals. Dr. Jane Fried and Susan Flater, R.N.C., oversee our disease prevention program for TB and tetanus. One of our goals for this year was to enrich the environment for the nonhuman primates and rodents. This has been accomplished successfully. The renovation of the 9th floor has been completed to meet the needs of the new Mind and Brain Institute.

The animal care program is in compliance with AAALAC, USDA, NIH guidelines and the New York State Department of Health for the care and use of animals. In February, we had a successful visit by AAALAC International. The site visitors commended our Animal Care Program.