Animal Resource Improvement at the University of Notre Dame

描述(由申请人提供)：对人类疾病的研究已被视为圣母大学(UND)的一个联络点。在最近一个财政年度，来自外部来源的资金超过1亿美元；在过去24个月中，该大学承诺为旨在解决我们时代一些最紧迫问题的新的综合研究举措提供8000万美元的内部资金。在快速扩张的研究事业的同时，该大学的动物研究也出现了类似的增长。值得注意的是，对维持和使用水生物种的资源的需求有了巨大的增长。这导致特别需要改善和扩大我们安置大量斑马鱼和非洲爪蛙(非洲爪蛙)的能力。虽然该大学在实验动物护理方面享有极高的声誉，但某些核心设备的年龄和能力使其未来变得脆弱不堪。为了满足这一需要，我们请求提供资金，以实现以下具体目标： 1.扩大斑马鱼的安置能力，包括更换过时、老化的系统； 2.增加我们繁育斑马鱼的能力； 3.改善和扩大非洲爪蛙的住房；以及 4.加强我们监测斑马鱼和非洲爪哇关键环境参数的能力 青蛙住房系统。虽然我们目前饲养了大约170只非洲爪蛙，但我们需要将容量增加到大约800-850只；斑马鱼的容量需要从目前的26,250只增加到大约35,000只。此外，目前的系统监测能力不足，使动物和研究处于危险之中。此外，圣母大学IACUC注意到斑马鱼系统的一些组成部分结构恶化。总而言之，这些弱点将我们不断扩大的研究项目置于危险之中。为了满足这一需求，我们建议用系统取代现有设备，以扩大非洲爪蛙和斑马鱼的收容能力，并提高我们繁殖和饲养更多斑马鱼的能力。此外，拟议的升级将解决动物健康问题，并优化我们提供持续监测和应对环境参数的能力，环境参数是成功研究企业的关键。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research into human disease has been embraced as a focal point for the University of Notre Dame (UND). Funding from external sources exceeded $100 million in the latest fiscal year; and the University has within the last 24 months committed $80 million of internal funding to new, integrated research initiatives designed to address some of the most pressing issues of our times. The rapidly expanding research enterprise has been accompanied by similar growth in animal research at the University. Notably, there has been an enormous expansion in the demand for resources for the maintenance and use of aquatic species. This has resulted in a particular need to improve and expand our capacity to house large numbers of zebrafish and African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). While the University has a stellar reputation in laboratory animal care, the age and capacity of certain core equipment leaves the future of this vulnerable. To address this need we request funds to meet these specific objectives: 1. Expand the capacity for housing of zebrafish, including replacement of outdated, aging systems; 2. Increase our capacity for breeding and rearing zebrafish; 3. Improve and expand housing for African clawed frogs; and 4. Strengthen our ability to monitor key environmental parameters of the zebrafish and Xenopus frog housing systems. Though we currently house approximately 170 Xenopus frogs, we need to increase capacity to approximately 800-850; and zebrafish capacity needs to increase from the current 26,250 to approximately 35,000. Further, current systems have inadequate monitoring capability, placing animals and research at risk. In addition, the University of Notre Dame IACUC has noted structural deterioration of some components of the zebrafish system. Together, these weaknesses put our expanding research programs in peril. To address the need, we propose to replace the existing equipment with systems that will expand housing capacity for both Xenopus frogs and zebrafish and increase our ability to breed and raise greater numbers of zebrafish. Further, the proposed upgrade will address animal health issues and optimize our ability to provide continuous monitoring of, and response for, environmental parameters key to a successful research enterprise.