Biocontainment Suite Renovation to Enhance Research

描述（由申请人提供）： 该申请要求提供资金，在马萨诸塞州医学院（UMMS）动物医学系为动物建造一个新的生物防护室（BC）。许多UMMS研究人员获得资助的项目范围从开发针对特定生物恐怖主义制剂的新型疫苗到鉴定结核分枝杆菌中的毒力基因。该学院在传染病免疫学和疫苗开发方面有很大的深度，特别是在病毒学领域。现有的BC设施无法满足当前的需求。在生物防御研究的强烈兴趣和招聘新的教师需要BC空间的推动下，需求增加，要求我们的设施进行全面升级。我们的目标：1.为了缓解过度拥挤，开发了一个更大的BC（从1,450平方米。英尺至2，800平方米ft.）。2.通过将BC从当前的中心位置迁移到外围位置，降低意外疾病传播的可能性。3.通过为七个实验室提供空间，每个实验室都配备了生物安全柜，并配备了专门针对BC的通风系统，以提高研究安全性和生产力。拟建的设施包括一套七个相连的实验室，提供最先进的ABSL-3环境。它将满足现有和未来使用需要ABSL-2/3遏制的传染病体内模型进行研究的需求。新的动物BC设施将刺激UMMS的生产性研究的增长，以及对公共卫生和国防至关重要的领域的资金。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application requests funds to construct a new Biocontainment Suite (BC) for animals in the Department of Animal Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS). Many UMMS investigators are funded for projects ranging from developing novel vaccines against select bioterrorism agents to identifying virulence genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The school has great depth in the immunology of infectious diseases and vaccine development, particularly in the field of virology. The existing BC facility cannot meet the current need. Increased demands, fueled by the intense interest in biodefense research and by recruitment of new faculty needing BC space, mandate a comprehensive upgrade of our facility. Our goals: 1. To alleviate overcrowding by developing a larger BC (from 1,450 sq. ft. to 2,800 sq. ft.). 2. To decrease the potential for accidental disease transmission by relocating BC from its current central location to a peripheral location. 3. To enhance research safety and productivity by providing space for seven lab rooms each equipped with a biosafety cabinet, and having a ventilation system specific to the BC. The proposed facility comprises a suite of seven connected laboratories, providing a state-of-the-art ABSL-3 environment. It will meet existing and future needs for research using in vivo models of infectious diseases requiring ABSL-2/3 containment. The new animal BC facility will stimulate the growth of productive research at UMMS, and funding in areas vital to public health and national defense.