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About Member of UT System

MDACC Preclinical Behavior Core

Overview of Services

Purpose:
The purpose of the Preclinical Behavior Core is to provide consultation and services to evaluate pain and cognitive behaviors in rodent models.

Mission:
The core’s mission is to accelerate the preclinical development of novel therapeutics for neurological complications of cancer and its treatment by:

  • consultation on validated rodent models of pain and cognitive impairment
  • administering behavioral assessments measuring sensitivity to temperature, mechanical/thermal sensitivity, spontaneous/ongoing pain, cognition, sensorimotor function, activity, and affect/motivation.
  • fostering clinician-scientist collaborations across various disciplines to innovate novel therapies, solutions and treatments leading to breakthrough discoveries.

Services:

  • Touch/temperature sensitivity:
    • von Frey/brush tests
    • Mechanical conflict-avoidance
    • Hargreaves
    • Acetone/plantar dry ice
    • Thermal gradient ring
  • Memory/problem-solving/motivation:
    • Puzzle box
    • Novel object recognition
    • Forced swim test
    • Operant feeding devices
  • Motor coordination/musculoskeletal health:
    • Beam walk
    • Rotarod
    • Catwalk
    • Grip strength
    • Wheel running
  • ‘Activities of daily living:’
    • Nest building/burrowing activity
    • Home cage monitoring
  • Spontaneous/ongoing pain:
    • Conditioned place preference

Equipment and Technology:
The PBC has the necessary apparatuses and software to conduct all mouse behavioral assays listed in our Services section.
In addition to our equipment and software, the following spaces can be booked for training and/or experimentation:

  • Whisper Room 1
  • Whisper Room 2

Acknowledgment

Please use the following text in the acknowledgements section:

"Data were generated in part through the use of the Preclinical Behavior Core (PBC) [and list other Cancer Center Support Grant shared resources if used], which receives partial support from the National Cancer Institute under grant P30CA016672 to MD Anderson Cancer Center. The research reported in this [publication/press release] was not directly funded through the grant P30CA016672 to MD Anderson Cancer Center and is not within the scope of such grant."

Leadership

Peter M. Grace, PhD | Director

Andrew J. Shepherd, PhD | Co-Director

Location and hours of operation

Hours Location

Monday - Friday
8am - 5pm                     

6767 Bertner Avenue
Houston, TX 77030

Links and Resources

Contacts

Name Role Phone Email Location
Nathan Goodwin
Program Coordinator
 

 
PBResearchCore@mdanderson.org