PLEHTA: Animal Experimentation and High Technology Platform

The Animal Experimentation and High Technology Platform (PLEHTA) specializes in housing and studying animal models under highly controlled containment conditions. The platform is open to the entire scientific community in Lille. PLEHTA meets a wide range of needs from research units specializing in infectious diseases, metabolism, cardiovascular diseases, oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, pharmacology, and toxicology. The site boasts specific facilities and expertise, some of which are unique in the region.

PLEHTA offers:

• Housing rodents under controlled health status: bio-exclusion and bio-containment,
• The housing of rodents in CMR and toxic confinement,
• Rodent housing and a GLP-accredited laboratory reserved for regulatory toxicology studies in vivo

The platform has specific structures and equipment, including:

• Pet shop, Biological Safety A2 and A3*, GMO
• Bioluminescence/fluorescence imaging platform and intravital imaging at containment levels A1, A2, A3* and A3,
• Plethysmograph in A1 and A2-3*

The platform has developed a "high-tech animal" facility offering techniques for decontaminating rodent lines, cryopreservation (embryos/sperm, ovaries), ovary transplantation, and IVF or in vitro fertilization. PLEHTA participates in several working groups within French networks of which PLEHTA is a member (CELPHEDIA, OPAL, AFSTAL, etc.). PLEHTA is part of thePLBS Joint Service Unit - UMS 2014 – US 41.