Caltech Braun Animal Facility Cage Wash Renovation Project

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案寻求资金支持加州理工学院（Caltech）博朗老鼠设施（BMF）笼子洗涤区域的重大改造和翻新，包括购买和安装几个主要的固定设备项目。需要购买的主要固定设备包括：隧道清洗机、高效空气过滤器过滤的床上用品垃圾处理站、床上用品分配器和软水机。需要A&R的笼式洗涤区域的拟议主要升级包括：安装新购买的固定设备；在笼子清洗设施入口设置气闸/更衣区；将现有的固定设备项目搬迁到邻近的机械空间，优化可用的工作空间，改善工作流程；以及大量的天花板工作，包括安装：2个高压灭菌器上方的排气罩，以及嵌入式防潮灯具和隐藏式消防喷头。此外，现有的表面安装的空气供应HEPA过滤器将被重新安装，以便它们被冲洗安装。加州理工学院88%的研究人员在动物实验中使用了BMF，用来饲养加州理工学院培育的基因工程小鼠。拟议的升级对于支持PHS支持的加州理工学院生物医学研究的继续进行是必要的。重点是通过维护或改善动物健康和福利，纠正潜在的人类生命安全危害，以及提高劳动力和空间利用效率，确保遵守NRC指南并保持AAALAC认证。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal seeks funding to support major alteration and renovation of the cage wash area in the Braun Mouse Facility (BMF) at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) including purchase and installation of several major fixed equipment items. Major pieces of fixed equipment to be purchased include: a tunnel washer, a HEPA filtered bedding waste station, a bedding dispensing unit, and a water softener. The proposed major upgrades to the cage wash area requiring A&R include: installation of newly purchased fixed equipment; creation of an airlock/gowning area at the cage wash facility entrance; relocation of existing fixed equipment items to adjacent mechnical space to optimize usable work space and improve work flow; and extensive ceiling work including installation of: exhaust air canopies above 2 autoclaves, and flush mounted moisture-proof light fixtures and concealed fire sprinkler heads. In addition, existing air supply HEPA filters which are surface mnounted will be reinstalled so they are flushed mounted. The BMF, a full barrier facility, is used by 88% of Caltech investigators using animals in research, to house genetically engineered mice created at Caltech. The proposed upgrades are necessary to support the continued conduct of PHS supported biomedical research at Caltech. Emphasis is placed on ensuring compliance with the NRC Guide and maintaining AAALAC accreditation through maintaining or improving animal health and welfare, correcting potential human life safety hazards, and improving labor and space utilization efficiency.