RENOVATION OF ANIMAL FACILITIES

描述（由申请人提供）： PSM有一个充满活力的研究计划，目前正在经历一个积极的增长时期。 最近为临床研究和基础科学建设的新设施将增加新的研究型教师的持续招聘。 虽然目前的生物医学动物资源设施（BARF）符合美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）和美国农业部（USDA）关于使用啮齿动物的指导方针，但它不能满足PSM的需求。 学校最近购买了一栋22，600平方米的建筑。英尺与现有的临时设施相邻。约7,000平方米英尺将对该建筑进行翻新，为PSM提供新的核心BARF。 这个动物资源改善项目将有助于升级现有的动物设施，允许继续支持PHS支持的生物医学和行为动物研究，并将有助于实现其RCMI计划的目标。 要求提供资金，将这一外壳空间翻修成两个具体领域：生物医学研究和实验外科，以及购买固定和移动设备。 为实现总体目标，将解决以下具体目标：1）改造和翻新最近获得的外壳空间，以包括动物饲养、免疫功能低下动物饲养空间、具有多用途实验室空间的支持性饲养、诊断实验室和大型动物手术室; 2）购买和安装几件急需的固定设备，如新的笼清洗系统;（3）购置可移动设备，以取代和补充现有设备。 该申请的最终目标不仅是保持符合美国农业部和卫生与公众服务部的政策，而且还将PSM的设施升级到足够的标准，以便将来获得AAALAC的认证。 这将表明，不仅符合法律要求的最低标准，而且其目的是实现和展示动物福利的卓越性，使PSM能够招募更好的研究人员，并最终帮助确保未来获得更多的研究资金。 总之，这项申请为RCMI资助的非营利性少数民族研究生和卫生专业学校提供了一个独特的机会，以改造和升级其现有的动物设施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): PSM has a dynamic research program that is currently undergoing a period of aggressive growth. The recent construction of new facilities for both clinical research and basic science will augment the ongoing hiring of new research-oriented faculty. While the present Biomedical Animal Resource Facility (BARF) is compliant with National Institutes of Health (NIH) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for the use of rodents, it does not meet PSM's needs. The school has recently purchased a building of 22,600 sq. ft. adjacent to the current temporary facilities. Approximately 7,000 sq. ft. of this building will be renovated to provide the new core BARF for PSM. This animal resource improvement project will help to upgrade the current animal facilities, allowing for the continued support of PHS-backed biomedical and behavioral animal research, and will help to fulfill the goals of its RCMI program. Funds are requested for renovation of this shell space into two specific areas: biomedical research and experimental surgery, and for the purchase of fixed and moveable equipment. To achieve the overall objective the following specific aims will be addressed: 1) alteration and renovation of recently acquired shell space to include animal housing, space for housing of immunocompromised animals, support housing with multi-use laboratory space, a diagnostic laboratory, and a large animal surgery suite; 2) purchase and installation of several much-needed pieces of fixed equipment such as a new cage wash system; and 3) purchase of moveable equipment in order to replace and complement existing equipment. The final goal of this application is not only to maintain compliance with USDA and Department of Health and Human Service policies, but also to upgrade PSM's facilities to a sufficient standard in order to receive future certification from the AAALAC. This will demonstrate that, not only are the minimum standards being met as required by law, but also that the aim is to achieve and showcase excellence in animal well-being, enabling PSM to recruit better researchers and ultimately help with securing additional research funding in the future. In summary, this application provides a unique opportunity for this RCMI-funded non-profit Minority Graduate and Health Professional School to renovate and upgrade its existing animal facilities.