Modernization of the UTHSC Animal Care Facility

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The Laboratory Animal Care Unit (LACU) is 1 of 9 institutional cores within the UTHSC Office of Research and is responsible for providing all laboratory animal services and regulatory oversight for the UTHSC campus across 6 animal facilities. The LACU supports the animal research needs of 120 active principal investigators (PIs) on the UTHSC campus. The newest animal facility addition to the campus is the UTHSC Animal Care Facility (UACF), which was constructed in 2012 by a local foundation and purchased by UTHSC in 2021.The facility currently supports the animal research needs of 19 UTHSC PIs, and 1 local biotechnology company, with funding and grants totaling $41,248,674. It also is the primary animal facility where work with large animals (pigs, dogs, non-human primates, goats etc.) can be performed. While the facility is of sound design and quality, several features are missing that are standard in modern animal facilities. The primary deficiency is an automated animal watering system (AWS) which, as a result, obligates the use of individual cage water bottles (for rodents) or water bowls/troughs (for larger animals). This creates increased labor costs associated with the filling, cleaning, cage placement and monitoring of water bottles by both animal facility and research staff. An AWS delivers a more consistent water supply throughout the facility, thus reducing potential variability from animal to animal which would affect data collection. Automated watering systems also have built in alarms, which send notification should an increase in the water flow amount be detected, which indicates the presence of an active leak. These leaks can then be corrected, thus preventing loss of animals due to drowning within a cage. In contrast, an alarm system is not possible when providing water bottles, and the use of water bottles for rodents is associated with more instances of cage flooding and animal welfare concerns. The use of an AWS is associated with decreased water and energy requirements, and a reduced risk of ergonomic injuries in personnel. Finally, an AWS also provides a considerable savings in labor costs, and frees up time for technicians to devote to other important duties related to animal care.