The Rodent In Vivo Assessment (RIVA) Core specializes in the design and conduct of rodent models based on behavior and genetics and includes 40+ models to identify therapeutic targets and disease modifying
genes, test mechanistic hypotheses, and perform in vivo compound screens. The RIVA Core also contains its own facility for the housing and care of animals operated under the direction of AAALAC accredited UTMB Animal Care Facility. A new building
(Building 17 expansion) adjacent to our facility in Building 17 was completed in 2019, adding 11,000 ft2 of rodent housing and experimental suites, which includes 2,500 ft2 for expansion of the UTMB RIVA Core. This expansion
augments the already large volume of simultaneous experiments available in the RIVA Core, ensuring the timely completion of numerous large studies, and separate rodent facilities for in vivo analyses of males and females.