A New Biomedical Research Vivarium at a Hispanic-Serving Institution on the US-Mexico Border

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PROJECT SUMMARY Animal-based biomedical research is a critical contributor to human health and economic well-being in the United States. The importance of animal-based biomedical research has never been more apparent than during the current COVID19 pandemic. Work with animal models has been essential for understanding disease progression, improving patient care, designing and testing vaccines and uncovering the origins of this deadly disease. The current pandemic has also unmasked the grave health disparities that exist in our nation. The disproportionate impact of COVID19 on African-American, Hispanic and Native American populations has highlighted a fundamental gap in our knowledge of how minority populations differ from majority populations in susceptibility, symptomology, and response to treatments for diseases. This knowledge gap extends beyond COVID 19 to encompass virtually all health and behavioral issues. One important solution for addressing this gap is to increase the scope of research, and research training, in communities with larger minority populations. New Mexico State University (NMSU) is a Hispanic-serving Institution of Emerging Excellence located on the southern border of the United States, an area of high racial, cultural and economic diversity. This project would fund construction of new wild animal vivarium, aviary and insectary at NMSU that would enhance biomedical research and training for these diverse populations. This new building would house both wild animal disease models such as rodents, bats and birds and invertebrate disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and bedbugs. The building will also include behavioral observation and procedural rooms, analytical and physiology testing labs, a microscopy room and support space. This new building will adjoin and complement a new lab animal vivarium already under construction with state bond funding that includes housing for lab animal models, behavioral and procedure rooms, diagnostic and analytical labs, a large surgery suite and support space. The combined complex, called the Biomedical Research Facility, will replace and greatly expand upon the existing aging campus vivarium, and will bring together in one facility work on invertebrate models that is currently spread across campus. The Biomedical Research Facility will support NMSU’s biomedical research strengths in emerging infectious diseases, aging, cancer and health disparities in underserved populations, enhance training of students from underrepresented populations, and promote research addressing the health of border communities and minority populations in New Mexico and the region.