Renovation of UCHC's Center for Laboratory Animal Care Core Facilities

描述(由申请人提供)：康涅狄格大学健康中心(UCHC)位于康涅狄格州法明顿，是该州的生物医学研究、临床护理以及医学、牙科和研究生的公共教育和研究培训中心。UCHC申请2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(ARRA)910万美元的资金，以翻新、现代化和改进位于已有37年历史的实验动物护理中心(CLAC)内的笼子加工设施(CPF)和手术室核心设施。这些设施横跨UCHC大楼B、L和K大楼的相邻地下室，占地22,500总面积/15,480净可分配平方英尺。CLAC作为园区照顾和使用实验动物的主要场所，支持136名研究人员的研究项目(其中68人是NIH的独立调查人员)。目前，NIH为动物研究提供的积极支持(4570万美元)包括：111个研究人员发起的项目、3个职业发展奖、3个培训补助金和6个奖学金。为了保持高水平的动物护理，确保实验室动物护理评估与认可协会(AAALAC)的持续认证，为新的研究人员管理更多物种，并增强当前和未来由NIH资助的研究人员的研究能力，UCHC建议翻新CPF和外科套件核心设施，并购买用于这些核心的现代、节能设备。CPF核心设施存在严重缺陷，特别是其过时、低能效的散装高压锅、隧道、笼式和机架垫圈。目前用于床上用品去除的过程将被一种高效的、符合人体工程学设计的真空床上用品去除和自动床上用品分配系统所取代。森林合作伙伴关系和高压灭菌器设施的翻新以及新设备的采购将大大提高中央空调中心的整体运作效率，纠正森林合作伙伴关系工作人员有问题的工作条件和人体工学问题，并采用可持续技术来减少水和能源消耗。CLAC手术室目前的配置以及手术室和动物制备室之间没有隔离，导致程序效率低下，并构成污染和感染的风险。手术套间的翻新和改进将极大地加强UCHC研究界和附属研究人员的科学计划。将CPF和外科套间翻新合并到一个项目中，可最大限度地减少运营中断并实现成本效益。利用可持续设计原则，翻新CLAC CPF和手术室核心设施，符合ARRA的目标，这一建设项目将立即创造新的就业机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC), located in Farmington, Connecticut, serves as the State's center for biomedical research, clinical care, and the public education and research training of medical, dental and graduate students. UCHC requests $9.1M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to renovate, modernize, and improve the Cage Processing Facility (CPF) and surgical suite core facilities located in the 37-year old Center for Laboratory Animal Care (CLAC). These facilities span the adjacent basements in UCHC Building B, L and K and occupy 22,500 gross/15,480 net assignable square feet. CLAC operates as the campus' primary site for the care and use of laboratory animals, supporting the research projects of 136 researchers (68 of whom are independent NIH investigators). Current, active NIH support ($45.7M) that funds research involving animals includes: 111 researcher-initiated projects, 3 career development awards, 3 training grants, and 6 fellowships. To maintain a high level of animal care, assure continued Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) accreditation, manage additional species for new investigators, and enhance the research capabilities of current and future NIH-funded investigators, UCHC proposes renovating the CPF and surgical suite core facilities and purchasing modern, energy-efficient equipment for use in these cores. The CPF core facility has significant deficiencies, particularly its outdated, energy-inefficient bulk autoclaves, tunnel, and cage and rack washers. The current process used for bedding removal will be replaced with an efficient, ergonomically designed vacuum bedding removal and automated bedding dispensing system. Renovation of the CPF and autoclave facilities and new equipment purchases will significantly improve overall operational efficiencies in CLAC, correct problematic working conditions and ergonomic issues for the staff in the CPF and employ sustainable technologies to reduce water and energy consumption. The current configuration of the CLAC surgical suite and the lack of separation between the operating room and the animal preparation rooms lead to procedural inefficiencies and pose a risk of contamination and infection. Renovations and improvement to the surgical suite will significantly enhance the scientific programs of the UCHC research community and affiliated investigators. Combining CPF and surgical suite renovations into a single project minimizes operational disruptions and achieves cost efficiencies. Renovation, using sustainable design principles, of the CLAC CPF and surgical suite core facilities is responsive to the goals of the ARRA and this construction project will immediately create new jobs.