Reptile research facility

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This proposal is to fund equipment used in the Discovery Grant entitled "Reptilian Tooth and Jaw Development" held by the applicant. The major equipment requested includes a fluorescence stereomicroscope, reptile surgery table capable of scavenging anesthetic gases, tissue culture incubator, egg incubator and tissue chopper. The equipment will be shared between the lab in the Life Sciences Institute (LSI) and the Centre for Comparative Medicine (CCM). In the next 6 months we need to move the gecko colony out of the current, alternative housing in the Life Sciences Institute. The move has been mandated by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, the UBC Animal Care Committee and the LSI. The CACC has allowed us to remain in the LSI as a temporary measure but they have stated that the geckos should ideally be housed in dedicated facilities. The University of British Columbia has a new animal facility with the capacity to house exotic animals. The advantages of the CCM are that there will be expert technicians looking after the geckos 24/7, the lighting and temperature of the rooms can be controlled, there is a separation between space used for housing and space used for surgical procedures. The disadvantages are that the CCM is approximately a 30 min walk away from the current building and that some of the specialized equipment we use is not available including the fluorescence stereomicroscope and a surgical table capable of scavenging gas anesthetics. It is too far to transport animals and equipment back and forth several times a week. It is also stressful for the animals to be moved so frequently. The aim of this proposal is to duplicate some of the equipment that is currently in the Richman lab in order to continue the research.