Expansion of Biocontainment (ABSL2) Animal Housing

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案是蒙大拿州立大学(MSU)动物资源中心(ARC)为涉及动物的生物安全二级研究项目(ABSL2)增加急需的住房和程序空间的请求。这笔赠款的目标是1)使目前生物安全二级动物住房和程序空间增加一倍以上，以及2)提供一种可靠的方法，在将物品从二级生物安全住房区域移走之前对物品进行净化。赠款的目标将通过以下方式实现：1)升级目前用作生物安全一级住房的7个房间的现有通风系统，从而实现单程、非循环的空气处理和与设施其余部分负相关的气压差；以及2)更换过时、不可靠和不安全的高压灭菌器。这项资金提案的其他好处包括：1)适当安置和处理感染了生物安全二级制剂的动物，以及2)减少高压灭菌器装卸时的受伤风险，从而提高了人员安全。这项资助中概述的翻新和设备更新是密歇根州立大学遵守ABSL2法规要求的最经济和有效的方法。这项赠款申请将使ABSL2的可用住房空间增加一倍以上，而不必扩建或建造。由于密歇根州立大学资助的大多数动物研究要求传染病工作的生物安全级别至少为二级，这一请求将直接使许多NIH资助的研究人员受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is a request by Montana State University (MSU) Animal Resources Center (ARC) to increase much needed housing and procedural space for biosafety level two research projects involving animals (ABSL2). The objectives of this grant are to 1) more than double the current biosafety level two animal housing and procedural space, and 2) provide a reliable method of decontaminating items prior to removal from the biosafety level two housing area. The objectives of the grant will be met by 1) upgrading the current ventilation system in seven rooms now used for biosafety level one housing, resulting in single-pass, non-recirculating air handling and an air pressure differential that is negative to the remainder of the facility, and 2) replacing an outdated, unreliable and unsafe autoclave. Additional benefits from this funding proposal include increased personnel safety through 1) properly housing and handling animals infected with biosafety level two agents, and 2) decreasing the risk of injury when performing autoclave loading and unloading. The renovation and equipment updates outlined in this grant are the most economical and efficient method for MSU to comply with ABSL2 regulatory requirements. This grant request will more than double the usable ABSL2 housing space without having to expand or build. Since the majority of grant funded animal research at MSU requires a minimum of biosafety level two for infectious disease work, this request will directly benefit many NIH funded researchers.