Welcome Members!
We have an exciting list of meetings, classes, and wet labs to offer you, along with fun networking opportunities! Please check out our Events page or the News section below to stay up to date on everything happening at the New England branch.
Paid membership is required to access the Member's Only features, like registering for events and wet labs. Annual membership is only $20/year so if you are not a member please click the "Register" link to the right and sign up today! Please feel free to Contact Us and let us know if you have any comments, questions, or requests for what you would like our branch to offer it's members.
Upcoming Meetings
*All dates and venues subject to change see event descriptions as they are posted.
 NewsThank you to all who attended the joint NEBAALAS/SNEAALAS event at the Roger Williams Park Zoo!
Here are some of the members enjoying the great weather and amazing animals
        
 Guest speakers and topics have been provided for the upcoming Zoo meeting with SNEAALAS!
Make sure to register quick only a few spots are remaining!
ANIMAL TRAINING IN A ZOOLOGICAL PARK Animal training in a zoological park poses a unique set of circumstances for the organization. Medical care of animals as small as rats and as large as elephants each present different training needs. In addition to medical care, the general husbandry of the animals can also be enhanced by training. Utilizing classical and operant conditioning techniques, zookeepers have developed several training initiatives that aid in the care of all the animals. PAMELA JONES, who joined the Roger Williams Park Zoo in 2013, oversees and supervises a team of zookeepers, lead keepers, interns and volunteers as well as the Zoo’s behavioral husbandry program. Formerly she served as the Natural Encounters Supervisor as the Houston Zoo in Texas where she managed the daily husbandry of a wide variety of reptiles, birds, invertebrates and mammals. Jones also spent six years as an animal keeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. VALIDATING ENRICHMENT Environmental enrichment is provided to laboratory animals in order to enhance animal well-being and promote species-typical behaviors. Animal enrichment has become a huge industry with numerous options for all species, in addition to the many ideas for recycling and repurposing items for enrichment that are shared on the internet. But what enrichment should you choose, and how do you know if it is ‘working’? Some enrichment options may not contribute to an animal’s well-being, while others could even have a negative effect on the animal or to the scientific data. This presentation will discuss how to define goals for enrichment and how to validate that the enrichment provided is effective and safe for both animals and study integrity. MELISSA DRAGON is a Global Trainer in Comparative Medicine at Pfizer Inc. She has over 15 years of experience in laboratory animal science working at contract research organizations, academic institutions and the pharmaceutical industry in a number of roles such as Facility Group Leader, Trainer, Enrichment Coordinator and Behavioral Management Specialist. She has worked with most laboratory animals including rodents, rabbits, dogs, swine, livestock and nonhuman primates and provided training to researchers, husbandry and veterinary staff. Melissa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is certified as a Laboratory Animal Technologist and a Certified Manager of Animal Resources. She is passionate about improving animal well-being through decision-making based on scientific analysis of stress and animal behavior, and through education of animal users.
NEBAALAS MEMBERS … RECOGNIZE YOUR PEERS, COLLEAGUES, YOUR MANAGERS WHO HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCES FIELD DEADLINE IS AUGUST 8th, 2018! NEBAALAS is seeking nominations for several 2018 awards. Award recipients will be honored at the ROCK THE BOAT ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER to be held on the Spirit of Boston, Thursday, September 13, 2018. These awards are open to all NEBAALAS members! ALL PEOPLE WHO NOMINATE A PERSON WILL RECEIVE A FREE RAFFLE TICKET … WHICH GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO WIN BIG! You can download the nomination packet HERE. Nominations must be submitted by e‐mail no later than AUGUST 8, 2018 to lynne.walsh@msmr.org.
ON BEHALF OF THE NEBAALAS NOMINATIONS/ AWARDS COMMITTEE, WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
The New England Branch of the American Association (NEBAALAS) for Laboratory Animal Science gives six awards annually at the winter meeting, as follows: Bernard F. Trum Award, with an honorarium of $250.00 Kate Sweeney Laboratory Animal Technologist Award, with an honorarium of $100.00 John F. Zucker Animal Technician Award, with an honorarium of $100.00 Assistant Lab. Animal Technician/Cage Washer Award, with an honorarium of $100 Laboratory Animal Supervisor/Manager Award, with an honorarium of $100 Robert Kydd Vendor Award, with an honorarium of $100 Bernard F. Trum Award. Dr. Bernard F. Trum retired from Harvard Medical School after a very distinguished career. Dr. Trum is one of the original founders of the branch and worked hard to make it succeed. He was president of NEBAALAS and held other offices as well. The person nominated for the Bernard F. Trum Award should have made significant contributions to the betterment of the New England Branch, to the field of animal care and/or quality of animals used in research. The person must be a member of the branch. The Kate Sweeney Laboratory Animal Technologist Award is for technicians who are certified at the LATG level and hold animal care positions with minimal to moderate supervisory responsibility and exhibit an interest in attaining additional education and training to become more proficient in their vocation; show a dedication to furthering laboratory animal science through teaching and training junior technicians; are respected by colleagues for dedication to common goals in laboratory animal science; contributed to personnel and facility management training of animal care personnel; and/or have shown an interest in participating in AALAS at local, regional, and/or National levels. The technician has made outstanding contributions to laboratory animal science and technology, which may include participation in NEBAALAS affairs, publications, work performance, technician training and other notable accomplishments in the field of laboratory animal science. The John F. Zucker Animal Technician Award is for technicians who are certified at the LAT level and hold animal care positions with minimal supervisory responsibility and exhibit an interest in attaining additional education and training to become more proficient in their vocation; show a dedication to furthering laboratory animal science through teaching and training junior technicians; are respected by colleagues for dedication to common goals in laboratory animal science; and/or have shown an interest in participating in AALAS at local, regional, and/or National levels. The technician has made outstanding contributions to laboratory animal science and technology, which may include participation in NEBAALAS affairs, publications, work performance, technician training and other notable accomplishments in the field of laboratory animal science. The Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician/Cage Washer Award is for technicians who are generally certified at the ALAT level and hold animal care positions with no supervisory responsibility and exhibit an interest in attaining additional education and training to become more proficient in their vocation; show a dedication to furthering laboratory animal science through teaching and training junior technicians; are respected by colleagues for dedication to common goals in laboratory animal science; and/or have shown an interest in participating in AALAS at local, regional, and/or National levels. Note: ALAT certification is not an absolute requirement for this award. The Laboratory Animal Supervisor/Manager Award is for facility supervisors or managers who are certified at the LATG level and have supervisory positions. The person must exhibit an interest in attaining additional education and training to become more proficient in their vocation; show a dedication to furthering laboratory animal science through teaching and training technicians; are respected by colleagues for dedication to common goals in laboratory animal science; contributed to personnel and facility management training of animal care personnel; and/or have shown an interest in participating in AALAS at local, regional, and/or National levels. The person has made outstanding contributions to laboratory animal science and technology, which may include participation in NEBAALAS affairs, publications, work performance, technician training and other notable accomplishments in the field of laboratory animal science. The Robert Kydd Vendor Excellence Award is given to a vendor who has made outstanding contributions to laboratory animal science and technology, which may include participation in NEBAALAS affairs, publications, work performance, technician training and other notable accomplishments in the field of laboratory animal science. Be prepared to provide the following contact information when you submit your nomination: To be eligible for consideration, the nominee must be a current member of NEBAALAS. In the Nomination Form you will be asked why your candidate deserves to win over all of the others Nominated. You may want to have these items ready before you begin your Nomination:
• Which of the Awards Categories best suits the work of your Nominee? How to submit nominations & support letters:• State why you think the nominee deserves recognition • Why is this Nominee truly outstanding? • Nominee’s complete contact information • Your Name and Contact Email & Phone Number We urge you to submit supporting letters to assist the committee in determining how well the nominee meets the criteria for the selected award. All materials must be received by August 8th 2018. Here are the directions to send us your nominations: In consideration of the environment, we encourage the submission of electronic nominations instead of physical materials. If you still wish to submit physical materials, we require five (5) copies. These materials will NOT be returned. MSMR, Inc. c/o Lynne Walsh ATTN: NOMINATION Committee 73 Princeton Street, Suite 311 North Chelmsford, MA 01863 Electronic Nominations: Electronic materials sent as attachments will be distributed to the nomination committee members by e-mail. Nominations & Support letters may be sent as e-mail attachments to: lynne.walsh@msmr.org
A message from: Cindy A. Buckmaster Hi All. As some of you know, I founded Homes for Animal Heroes (HAH) a couple of years ago to help the research community rehome dogs and educate the public about the truth of our work and their need for it. We are really starting to gain momentum! HAH is currently active in 3 states and working to extend our rehoming/educational network to 10 states in 2018. We are also planning to release some public service announcements this year. I would love for you to contribute toward my race. No pressure to do so, but it’s a great cause that benefits us all: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1414579. Thanks! To learn more: HAH website: http://animalheroes.naiaonline.org/ HAH Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/homesforanimalheroes Best, Cindy Cindy A. Buckmaster, PhD, CMAR, RLATG - TSBR President, AMP Chair Director, Center for Comparative Medicine Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza - BCM 145 Houston, TX 77030 Office: (713) 798-4843 Cell: (713) 825-9687 Fax: (713) 798-6588 email: buckmast@bcm.edu
February Meeting 2/22/18
Sponsored by : Location: Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 We are trying something new and starting the meeting early for our membership so be aware of the new times!
Agenda: Guest Speaker: 4pm - 5pm “An Environmental Enrichment Queue; a way to engage all levels of the department in the enrichment program (ideas, evaluation and use)” & “Destructible Enrichment for Non-human Primates” Winnie Y. Chan, MA PhD Environmental Enrichment Technician & Emily Bottari, ALAT Large Animal Research Technician
Social Hour and Networking: 5pm - 6pm
Board Meeting: 5:30pm - 7pm Members are allowed to join in! Happy Tech Week!
1/29/18 - 2/2/18
SAVE THE DATE! This year MSMR Will CELEBRATE the TENTH ANNUAL Enrichment Symposium at the BOSTON PARK PLAZA located at 50 Park Plaza at Arlington Street! On THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018 ... We will hold THREE 1/2 day workshops 1 PM - 5 PM COMPASSION FATIGUE/GRIEF MANAGEMENT ERGNOMICS LAB & ZOO ENRICHMENT and on ALL CREATURES BIG & SMALL ... Enrichment for Laboratory Animals!
https://www.facebook.com/franspublic/ Our goal is to introduce NEW ENRICHMENT IDEAS and TRAINING, VENDOR EXHIBITS, guest speakers and recognized experts in the field of Laboratory Animal Enrichment, TRAINING and BEHAVIOR!
November Meeting:
Q: That time of year again? A: What is the NEBAALAS Tech Challenge! 11/16/2017 The Starr Center at Schepens/MGH 20 Staniford St Boston, MA Come test your laboratory animal knowledge in a jeopardy-style contest with and against your peers! There will be six (6) teams with up to six (6) people per team going head to head answering questions at the ALAT, LAT, and LATG level. This event is geared towards TECHNICIANS; please no managers/vets/supervisors, etc. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams! 1st place: 1-yr NEBAALAS membership, $50 gift certificate, the coveted Golden Turkey
2nd place: 1-yr NEBAALAS membership, $25 gift certificate
3rd place: 1-yr NEBAALAS membership
You must be a CURRENT member of NEBAALAS to play on a team (But feel free to join before registering!) If you are interested in registering a team please email Katie Allen at kathryn.allen@intelliatx.com or call at 857-706-1094. You will need to have a team name as well as the first and last names of the members on the team.
WIN A FREE TRIP! Tech Challenge Raffle Giveaway All Expenses Paid to the 2018 QUAD SYMPOSIUM Sponsored by: Total MRO Trip Includes: 2 Nights Stay @ Foxwoods Hotel-Casino & QUAD Registration Fees!Eligibility To Win: Must be PRESENT at the November 2017 Tech Challenge NEBAALAS Meeting!!Must be a Cage Wash Technician, Animal Care Technician or Veterinary Technician (No Supervisors or Managers are eligible to win) Must be a current NEBAALAS member. Drawing will be held during November 2017 NEBAALAS Tech Challenge Meeting! Come and win a FREE TRIP-No cost to enter raffle! 
Congratulations to NEBAALAS’s 2017 VP-elect Matthew Flegal! Matt Flegal has been our Program Chair/Co-Chair for several years. We are very excited that he will be serving as VP-elect this coming year!
 
Wet-lab will be led by Melissa M. Haskell DVM, DABT, Irina Toore MS, and Krista Bigiarelli BS, RLATG of Kent Scientific.
Day will include a morning snack and a lunch break. Aug 04, 2017 10:00am - 4:00pm Yale University Registration: $65
Fundamentals of Research Surgery for Technicians 12-Week Course! 
Day: Wednesday Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm Start Date: July 12th, 2017 Where: Biogen, 125 Broadway, Cambridge MA Duration: 12 Weeks Instructor: Matt Flegal
Max Limit: 14 People Registration Opens: 6/26/2017 Cost: $100 per person If you have any questions about attendance and membership please either post on the site discussion board or email us at info.nebaalas@gmail.com 
We are saddened to announce that Jim Scott, Sr, has passed away. Jim was very active in the early days of NEBAALAS. Below is a letter from his son, along with a link to his obituary.
Dear Friends, It saddens me to inform you that my dad, Jim Scott, Sr. passed away peacefully on April 21 at the age of 91. As many of you know he owned Old Mother Hubbard - Wellness Pet Food Co. along with Scott’s Distributing from 1961 until his retirement in 2008. He loved our lab industry and it was always the main topic of our conversations at lunch. He was interested in knowing what’s new in the business and how all of you were. It made him very happy when Scott’s Distributing merged with PharmaServ and became ScottPharma Solutions in 2016. Jim will be truly missed by his family, friends and business associates. Sincerely, Tom Scott President ScottPharma Solutions His obituary link is below. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=james-m-scott&pid=185178068&fhid=7356
May Monthly Meeting Maximize Your Talent, Create Opportunities! May 25, 2017 Join us for a fun night of networking and learning new skills in career development! The speaker of the evening is William Singleton, DVM, of ACTS Training who will talk about "maximizing your talent". The nights events are as follows: 5:00PM: Social Hour 6:00PM: Talk by William Singleton on how to "Maximize Your Talent, Create Opportunities" Breakout sessions on resume writing, interview practice and a round table discussion on career development. Sponsors
Registration Closed
Registration for the Introduction to Rodent Surgical Principles and Techniques Wet Lab is now closed. Thank you for registering, we will see you on 4/27/2017! Next session planned for 5/30/17. Check back on 5/24/17 for more details and registration.
Wet Lab 5/30/17 This wet lab will provide attendees an overview of the following:
Previous handling is recommended.
Attendance is limited to 5 People Registration Opens on 4/14/17 Cost is $50 per person. If you have questions about attendance and membership please contact: info.nebaalas@gmail.com Attendees must wear a pair of closed toed shoes NOT worn in any other vivarium. Please make sure payment for this wet lab has been made prior to arrival. If you have not paid you MUST bring your payment in the form of cash or check or you will not be permitted to attend.
Directions Biolabs 16 Divinity Ave Cambridge, MA MBTA: Take the Red Line to the Harvard Square stop. Walk through Harvard Yard and down Divinity Ave one block. The Biolabs Buidling is the large brick building on your right, just a six minute walk from Harvard Square. Driving: Driving directions to the Biolabs, 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA from Biolabs, 16 Divinity Ave Parking: Harvard Parking on Site for a fee, metered parking on the streets around the site and public parking in Harvard Square. Mouse Model Generation using CRISPR/Cas Technology April 20th, 2017 Come join us for a fun filled night! We will start off with a networking social hour, followed by a presentation by Michael Walden on CRISPR/Cas Technologies.
Itinerary
Location Becker College Borger Academic Center Science Lecture Hall Room 108 Leicester, MA 01524  
COST: $100 per course
NEBAALAS Members ONLY
(check payable to NEBAALAS or pay online)
DAY / TIME: Mondays 4:30pm – 6:30pm (Time changed) (except Tuesday 4/18, Thursday 4/27 and Tuesday 5/30).
CLASS STARTS: Monday April 3rd, 2017
WHERE:
Mass General Hospital
185 Cambridge Street
Room 3110
Boston, MA
DURATION: 13 Weeks
INSTRUCTOR: Angie Heiser
Please sign in with Security & wait in lobby for escort to 3rd floor
If you have any questions or to put your name on the enrollment list, please contact:
Angie Heiser
617-643-4572 Office Phone
DAY / TIME: Tuesdays 4:00pm – 6:00pm
CLASS STARTS: Tuesday April 4th, 2017 (Start delayed one week)
WHERE:
Intellia Therapeutics
40 Erie Street
Room 1330, 1st Floor
Cambridge, MA
DURATION: 14 Weeks
INSTRUCTOR: Katie Allen as wellas various guest instructors
There is free parking on Waverly St. at the corner of Waverly and Erie
If you have any questions or to put your name on the enrollment list, please contact:
Katie Allen
857-706-1094 (Office)
617-510-7722 (Cell)
DAY / TIME: Wednesdays 4:00pm - 6:00pm
CLASS STARTS: Wednesday 3/22/17
WHERE: Novartis
250 Massachusetts Ave Room 1A-160 Cambridge, MA 1st Floor
DURATION: 12 Weeks
INSTRUCTOR: Dotty Paquin
***2007 LATG Book version (reprinted 2012) will be used***
If you have any questions or to put your name on the enrollment list, please contact:
Dotty Paquin
Phone: +1 617 460 4276 (c)
Dotty.Paquin@Novartis.com
www.nebaalas.org
A certificate will be given to each student at the completion of the course (minimum attendance – 10 classes to receive certificate)
It will be helpful if during this class, you have access to the following references:
ALAT
1). AALAS ALAT Training Manual
2). AALAS ALAT Work Book
3). Guide for the Care and Use of Lab Animals
LAT
1). AALAS LAT Training Manual
2). AALAS LAT Work Book
3). Guide for the Care and Use of Lab Animals
LATG
1). AALAS LATG Training Manual (2007 version)
2). AALAS LATG Work Book (2007 version)
3). Guide for the Care and Use of Lab Animals
Brian Gallagher
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