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）的请求，旨在为涉及动物的生物安全二级研究项目（ABSL 2）增加急需的住房和程序空间。该补助金的目标是：1）将目前的生物安全二级动物饲养和手术空间增加一倍以上，2）提供一种可靠的方法，在从生物安全二级饲养区取出之前对物品进行消毒。赠款的目标将通过以下方式实现：1）升级目前用于生物安全一级住房的七个房间的现有通风系统，从而实现单通道、非再循环空气处理和与设施其余部分呈负压的空气压差，以及2）更换过时、不可靠和不安全的高压灭菌器。这项资助提案的其他好处包括通过以下方式提高人员安全：1）妥善安置和处理感染生物安全二级制剂的动物，以及2）在进行高压灭菌器装载和卸载时降低受伤风险。本补助金中概述的翻新和设备更新是MSU遵守ABSL 2法规要求的最经济有效的方法。这项拨款申请将使ABSL 2的可用住房空间增加一倍以上，而无需扩建或建造。由于密歇根州立大学资助的大多数动物研究都要求传染病工作至少达到生物安全二级，因此这一要求将直接使许多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air handling and an air pressure differential that is negative to the remainder of the facility, and 2) replacing an outdated, unreliable and unsafe autoclave.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.