Newsletter highlights

In this newsletter, we invite you to our upcoming webinar on immunodeficient models, provide important details about our cancellation policy and animal ages, and share key highlights from the recent ANZLAA conference. This includes insights into our innovative technology systems and exciting updates on our soon-to-be-launched timed mating service.

Webinar on immunodeficient models

We are pleased to invite you to a joint JAX & Ozgene ARC webinar on Thursday, 19 September, at 9:00 AM AWST / 11:00 AM AEST. This event will explore immunodeficient models for cancer, immunity, and transplant research.

Immunodeficient mouse strains are indispensable for modelling human diseases. We will discuss the most widely used models and help you navigate the selection process to find the best match for your research. Join us to learn about:

• The varying degrees of immunodeficiency in common mouse models
• The benefits and limitations of mice with nude, SCID, and Rag1-null mutations
• Recent advancements using the versatile NOD SCID gamma (NSG®) mouse strain
• Innovations for studying human cancer made possible by the NSG mouse strain
• Model considerations for generating “humanised” immune system mice

Speaking of immunodeficient strains, we would like to remind you that we currently have the capacity to expand our NRG line. If you’re interested, this could be an alternative to our popular NSG strain, which is in high demand. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for more information.

Ozgene ARC cancellation policy

When you place an order through the portal, the animals are reserved for you and removed from the available stock. We then age them to the appropriate weeks before shipping. We understand that mistakes can happen when placing orders, so we allow the following in our T&Cs:

8.5 Order Cancellation and Amendments
a. The Customer may cancel or amend an order for Standard Products on the following terms: 

• The Customer must notify Ozgene ARC of any cancellation or amendment in their order no less than two (2) business days prior to the scheduled dispatch date to the Customer’s institution; and
• If cancelled or amended within 14 days of placing the order, the Customer will receive a refund of any difference in amount originally invoiced and the amount due for the amended or cancelled order (where cancelled orders will result in a full refund); or
• If cancelled or amended after 14 days from the date of placing the order, the Customer will not be entitled to a refund of any difference in amount originally invoiced and the amount due for the amended or cancelled order and any initial invoiced amounts with respect to the order must be paid to Ozgene ARC.

This ensures cancellations happen in a timely manner, allowing the animals to be re-released for sale and available to other customers. A full copy of Ozgene ARC’s published Terms and Conditions is available on our website.

Animal ages explained

Our Geneoz Vivarium Management System tracks each animal from birth to shipment, including mating and all husbandry procedures. This means we have precise records of every animal’s birthdate. Since we sell animals based on age in weeks, we consider animals born between Monday and Sunday to be the same age. For example, if you order 5-week-old animals, they will have been born within the Monday-Sunday period five weeks prior. Naturally, the animals continue to age daily, so animals delivered on a Monday will be slightly younger than those delivered on a Friday from the same group.

ANZLAA Conference thanks

We enjoyed connecting with everyone at the ANZLAA conference. We hope you caught our Chief Technology Officer, Mark van Proctor’s talk on our integrated technology systems. For those who missed it, feel free to reach out for more information on how these systems are innovating animal welfare and colony management.

Our Chief Transformation Officer, Maarit Patrick, shared an exciting sneak peek of upcoming updates, including the soon-to-be-launched timed mating service. While we already have the technical capability to perform this as part of our custom mouse model generation, our software developers are working to integrate the service into our digital systems to ensure operational efficiencies. This will allow us to offer the timed mating service as a separate, cost-effective option for customers. Internal testing will begin next week, with the service set to be rolled out in the following weeks.

Additionally, our new facility refit is progressing well. We are currently operating out of temporary locations but anticipate moving into our new space by late October. This facility will include a quarantine area and embryology lab, setting the stage for animal imports and rederivation services starting in 2025.