The Knight Surgical Research Laboratory (KSRL) is an AALAC accredited, fully staffed and stocked, multi-purpose large animal survival surgery facility. The lab was established in 1989 and is operated and maintained by the Department of Surgery. Investigators from the Department of Surgery and outside the Department use the facility to perform surgery for Subcommittee on Research Animal Care (SRAC) approved large animal research studies. The KSRL comprises approximately 2,500 square feet of space and is located on Thier 6 on the MGH Main Campus, in close proximity to the large animal housing facility on Edwards 6. The facility includes one large operative suite of approximately 800 square feet and another operative suite of 864 square feet, which can be divided into two procedure rooms, as well as approximately 830 square feet of office and supply storage space.

Director: Hasan Alam, M.D.
Phone: (617) 643-2433
Fax: (617) 726-2167
Email: hbalam@partners.org

Other Staff:

Laboratory Technician: Diann Funk-Flavin
Phone: (617) 726-6936
Email: dfunkflavin@partners.org

Administrative Director for Research, Department of Surgery: Karen Osborne
Phone: (617) 726-4208
Email: kosborne@partners.org

Director, Plastic Surgery Research Lab: Mark Randolph, M.A.S.
Phone: (617) 726-6943
Email: randolph.mark@mgh.harvard.edu

Location of Core:

The facility is located at Blossom Street, Thier 6, Boston

Major Equipment:

The OR's are equipped with operating tables, operating room lights, walled suction lines,
nitrous oxide, oxygen, and compressed air, and are outfitted with two monitors with eight-
channel recording potential, four anesthesia machines, and ventilators. The lab is also equipped with two cautery units, two pulse oximetry units, two ProPak monitoring machines, an x-ray machine, film view boxes, and a dark room. The laboratory includes a blood gas machine, a 2-channel flow probe box, and connection and water supply for lasers. Equipment such as endoscopy towers and ultrasound machines are available from the hospital units for special projects. The lab's Central Supply Room is equipped with a steam sterilizer, glass washer, dirty and clean sinks, and an instrument preparation area. The unit has separate locker and shower facilities, a conference room, and desk areas.

The KSRL is a full-service large animal operating facility staffed by a full-time laboratory
technician. Specific services provided are:

• Setting up instruments, sutures, IV bags
• Double-checking that equipment is in working order
• Preparing medications for procedures
• KSRL technician acts as circulator during procedures
• Under the supervision of the investigator, the KSRL technician may assist in monitoring and recording vital signs of the animal during procedures
• Anesthetizing the animal
• Recovering the animal in the OR suite from anesthesia
• Returning the animal to the animal housing facility
• Cleaning OR suite after the procedure

Note: Principal Investigators are ultimately responsible for the care and welfare of their
animals in the KSRL. The KSRL and the Technician are provided as a resource to assist
investigators with their experiments. Additional veterinary services are available from the
Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) for an additional fee.

Description

Procedure Time: Begins from the moment of the incision until closing. For non-surgical
procedures (i.e. endoscopy), procedure time covers beginning to end of the procedure.

Premium Procedure Time: Same services listed in Procedure Time, but conducted
outside the regular business hours of 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Increased rate is due to overtime,
which must be paid to the KSRL Technician.

Prep/Cleanup Time: Includes time needed to prepare for the procedure, recover the
animal from anesthesia, and clean the OR after the procedure. These services include:

• Setting up instruments, sutures, IV bags
• Double-checking that equipment is in working order.
• Preparing medications for the procedure.
• Anesthesizing the animal.
• Recovering the animal in the OR suite from anesthesia.
• Returning the animal to the animal housing facility.
• Cleaning OR suite after the procedure

Premium Prep/Cleanup Time: Same services listed in Procedure Time, but conducted
outside the regular business hours of 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Increased rate is due to overtime,
which must be paid to the KSRL Technician.

Inventory Items: The KSRL is stocked with common supplies needed for most large animal
surgical procedures. Items are charged on a usage basis.

To schedule OR time or if you have any questions, please contact Diann Funk-Flavin at
(617) 726-6936.