Developing and Improving Institutional Animal Resources

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案请求支持纽约州精神病研究所(NYSPI)动物护理设施的翻新，该研究所是一家非联邦机构，专注于与广泛的精神障碍相关的转化性研究和培训。修订后的目标是1)通过创建一个屏障设施来改善和增加啮齿动物的住房和测试空间，所有老鼠和大鼠的住房和测试都将在该设施内进行，以及2)提供更好的支持设施。现有的主要动物护理设施位于科尔布研究大楼的两层。物种混杂在一起。在新的设计中，所有的小鼠和大鼠都将被安置在同一层楼进行测试。住房面积将通过取消两条走廊来增加。将创建八个新的测试室，大部分毗邻住房房间。因此，许多啮齿动物将不必通过公共走廊往返考场。将有两个新的手术/程序室：一个是老鼠的，一个是大鼠的。大大扩大鼠类进口检疫能力。拟议的翻修是在研究大楼的最高三层建立一个最先进的、扩大的动物设施的长期计划的第一步。该设计将符合所有政府关于照顾实验室动物的指导方针和工作人员的安全规定。更合理的物种分布以及邻近的测试和栖息地将改善动物的福祉，提高饲养程序的效率，并促进生物医学研究和培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests support for the renovation of the animal care facility of the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), a non-federal institution that focuses on translational research and training related to a broad spectrum of mental disorders. The revised goals are 1) improve and increase housing and testing space for rodents by creating a barrier facility within which all housing and testing of mice and rats will take place, and 2) provide better support facilities. The existing main animal care facility occupies two floors of the Kolb Research Building. Species are intermingled. In the new design, all mice and rats will be housed and tested on a single floor. Housing space will be increased by the elimination of two corridors. Eight new testing rooms will be created, most adjacent to the housing rooms. Thus many rodents will not have to be carried through common corridors to and from testing rooms. There will be two new surgery/procedure rooms: one for mice, one for rats. The quarantine capabilities for importation of mice will be greatly expanded. The proposed renovations are the first step in a long term plan to create a state-of-the-art, expanded animal facility on the top three floors of the research building. The design will meet all government guidelines for the care of laboratory animals and safety regulations for staff. The more rational distribution of species with testing and housing spaces adjacent will improve animal well-being; increase efficiency of husbandry procedures; and facilitate biomedical research and training.