Modernization of an Integrated Specific Pathogen Free Zebrafish Core Facility

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PROJECT SUMMARY The Oregon State University Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory (SARL) is seeking funds to modernize an integrated specific pathogen-free zebrafish core facility. Our NIH biomedical research base has grown exponentially over the past decade and renovation, and modernization will ensure that it remains a critical resource to support research growth for well-established NIH Centers, individual NIH-supported investigators, and other stakeholder partners. The SARL supports Oregon State University’s thematic research areas: the science of sustainable earth ecosystems, health and wellness, and economic prosperity and social progress. Completion of this project will provide modern, sustainable, specific pathogen-free zebrafish housing space, specialty research space, and efficient fish life support and husbandry systems. Our overarching goals are to 1) Renovate an existing 3,500 ft2 purpose-built aquatic facility into a highly researcher-accessible zebrafish housing facility, 2) Replace obsolete and undersized zebrafish life support system, 3) Install modern zebrafish housing enhanced by automated cleaning, feeding, and remote monitoring, 4) Build specialty zebrafish rooms to support short and long term flow-through studies, 5) Add high capacity tank washing capabilities, and 6) Provide engineering space to further seed technological innovations. This renovation will be part of an existing research building with 10,000 ft2 of renovated space that houses a fully automated zebrafish high throughput chemical screening facility, modern imaging and molecular biology rooms, a 2,300 ft2 room for zebrafish behavioral studies, dedicated quarantine rooms, walk-in cold storage rooms, high- speed fiber-optic data transmission, large researcher office spaces, and modern meeting rooms. A key design principle for the SARL is that it seeds multidisciplinary interactions by providing a full menu of services. The SARL nucleates research programs through aggressive promotion of the zebrafish model. Completing this modernization project will address bottlenecks limiting further growth of zebrafish biomedical research. This proposal is part of the long-term commitment to developing and maintaining advanced aquatic biomedical research facilities at Oregon State University, the region, and nationally.