Space Optimization, Allergen Mitigation, and Improved Microenvironmental Conditions in a Shared Use Animal Facility at Florida State University

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal requests funds to acquire Tecniplast Emerald EM500 individually ventilated caging (IVC) systems to modernize and incorporate the latest IVC technology into a shared use vivarium at Florida State University (FSU). The FSU Animal Care and Use Program is poised to experience unprecedented growth as a result of the University President’s bold and ambitious agenda to increase annual research funding from $328M to $500M by building capacity in life sciences, medical research, and health data sciences and by hiring approximately 170 new, full- time, tenure-track faculty. The open-top and microisolator caging used program-wide cannot support the anticipated growth within existing facilities. Moreover, the expansion of the FSU research enterprise will undoubtedly translate into an increase in work with immunocompromised rodents and hazardous agents, which due to the lack of appropriate engineering controls, the University is presently ill-equipped to handle. Additionally, recent consultancy studies commissioned by the FSU Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) have identified occupational health concerns, specifically personnel exposure to laboratory animal allergens associated with the widespread use of open-top caging. The goal of this project is to acquire six single-sided mouse racks, three double-sided mouse racks, and one single-sided rat rack for the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF) vivarium, which, in combination, will provide 1,092 cage spaces for rodents and increase the mouse cage holding capacity of the vivarium by 162%. In addition to space optimization, the IVC technology requested is expected to mitigate occupational allergen exposure risks, provide appropriate engineering controls for work with immunocompromised rodents and hazardous agents, and improve microenvironmental conditions for FSU animal resources. The operational innovation and benefits to personnel health and safety and animal welfare achieved by the success of this proposal will uniquely position FSU and LAR to meet the demands of a burgeoning research enterprise and the needs of current and future NIH-funded investigators.