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Ichor Life Sciences’ Dr. Danique Wortel Named Primary Attending Veterinarian at Trudeau Institute
October 3, 2021
Ichor Life Sciences, a premium pre-clinical contract research organization offering services in discovery through pharmacology, announces that its attending veterinarian, Danique Wortel, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), now also serves as the primary attending veterinarian at Trudeau Institute. Established in Saranac Lake, New York, in 1884, Trudeau Institute is a not-for-profit research institute with a world-renowned reputation for R&D in immunity to infectious disease.
As an attending veterinarian, Dr. Wortel is responsible for the health, well-being, and clinical care of animals used in research, testing, teaching, and production.
Dr. Wortel is a graduate of Cornell University-College of Veterinary Medicine and holder of a certificate in lab animal medicine. She has extensive technical experience in laboratory animal husbandry, xenograft models, genetic models, and microsurgery.
A hands-on practitioner, Dr. Wortel has pioneered best-in-class practices such as positive reinforcement training with lab animals and oversaw the buildout of four vivariums at Ichor Life Sciences. This experience will benefit Trudeau Institute as it similarly seeks to bring in new animals and establish new programs. Dr. Wortel also managed the process of earning AAALAC accreditation for Ichor Life Sciences’ vivarium.
Dr. Wortel works with Trudeau Institute’s Animal Technical Services (ATS), which oversees aspects of animal health and personnel training; Animal Care Services (ACS), which provides daily husbandry for the animals; and research groups. Together, all these groups work to investigate infectious disease from cells to mice, hamsters, and ferrets in BSL1, 2, and 3 conditions.
“Dr. Wortel’s appointment as the primary attending veterinarian at the prestigious Trudeau Institute reflects her reputation as a highly regarded professional in animal welfare and clinical care,” says Dr. Kelsey Moody, PhD, MBA, chief executive officer, Ichor Life Sciences. “It also further solidifies Ichor Life Sciences’ position as a strategic partner to leading academic and research institutions.”
Ichor Life Sciences recently became the anchor tenant at Clarkson University’s North Country incubator as the two organizations collaborate to establish a biotechnology cluster in Potsdam, New York. The company also has research and education agreements with Cornell University, SUNY-ESF, and Syracuse University.
“I’m excited to work with this extraordinary group of people in support of Trudeau Institute’s mission of safeguarding human health and combatting 21st century global health crises,” says Dr. Wortel. “I look forward to drawing on my experience at Ichor Life Sciences to further the innovative practices at Trudeau and bringing to Ichor the perspectives and learnings I’ll gain from one of the world’s most respected research institutions.”