How do researchers ensure the most humane approach is taken when working with neonatal mice? In this episode, Dr. Ning-Kit (Kit) Tang, clinical veterinarian at the University of California, San Francisco, shares insights from her JAALAS paper, Hypothermia as a Sole Euthanasia Method for Neonatal Mice. Her paper explores whether prolonged cold exposure can serve as a humane and effective euthanasia technique for neonatal mice. Kit reflects on her path from UC Davis student to newly board-certified laboratory veterinarian, and shares how curiosity and compassion sparked her investigation into this sensitive topic. She walks listeners through her pilot study design, findings on age-dependent responses to hypothermia, and the importance of balancing animal welfare with operator well-being. Kit also discusses how expanding humane euthanasia options can help reduce compassion fatigue and improve training across research programs. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation bridging science, ethics, and care in laboratory animal medicine.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming today's guest, Dr. Ning-Kit (Kit) Tang.
• How her early work in mouse biology sparked her passion for lab animal medicine.
• What inspired her paper on Hypothermia as a Sole Euthanasia Method for Neonatal Mice.
• How mentorship and teamwork helped shape her residency research project.
• The welfare challenges surrounding euthanasia methods for neonatal mice.
• Her study's hypothesis: Can hypothermia be a sole euthanasia method?
• Pilot study findings comparing freezer, fridge, and ice-water exposure on two age groups.
• Reflections on compassion fatigue and operator well-being in euthanasia practices.
• Study limitations and opportunities for future research, including stress response observation.
• Final advice: provide multiple humane options and empower staff to choose.

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Ning-Kit Tang on LinkedIn

'Hypothermia as a Sole Euthanasia Method for Neonatal Mice'

American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)

AALAS Learning Library

Email AALAS

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS)The LASt Word: An AALAS Podcast