UPGRADE AND RENOVATION OF UK ANIMAL RESEARCH FACILITY

描述（由申请人提供）： 为了为NIH支持的研究提供优质的动物资源，肯塔基州大学（英国）要求70万美元的支持，用于改造和翻新中央动物设施（CAF）。拟议的升级是一个1，882，000美元项目的一部分，其目标是扩大和改善英国动物护理计划，以满足对高质量研究动物住房的需求，并保持对动物研究和畜牧业认证和监管机构的合规性。具体目标如下： 具体目标1。为了提高啮齿动物研究动物的质量和福利，特别是在云母中，通过将加压单独通风（PIV）微隔离器机架集成到当前的小鼠动物护理和饲养系统中，为动物提供压力较小和更健康的环境。 具体目标2。通过翻新和升级CB 13/28室的鼠笼清洗设施、扩大和翻新员工培训区以及翻新和升级走廊地板和门（约7，000平方英尺），提高员工在高效安全环境中提供优质动物护理的能力。笼子清洗改造将腾出足够的空间，为研究人员增加两个手术室。 具体目标3。通过安装反渗透净化水系统和环境监测系统，改善非人灵长类动物的健康和质量。 具体目标4。通过在12个出口门上增加无声警报和CAF电子监控功能，保护研究动物和动物相关数据。 实现这些具体目标将使英国能够为涉及动物的医学研究提供设施，并适应动物研究中物种利用的重大变化。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): To provide quality animal resources for NIH-supported research, the University of Kentucky (UK) requests $700,000 support for alterations and renovations to the Central Animal Facility (CAF). The proposed upgrades are part of a $1,882,000 project with the goal to expand and improve the UK animal care program to meet the increased demand for quality research animal housing and to maintain compliance with accrediting and regulatory agencies for animal research and husbandry. The specific aims are the following: Specific Aim 1. To enhance rodent research animal quality and welfare, particularly in mica, by integrating pressurized individually ventilated (PIV) microisolator racks into the current mouse animal care and husbandry system to provide an environment that is less stressful and healthier for the animal. Specific Aim 2. To enhance staff capacity to deliver quality animal care in an efficient and safe environment by renovating and upgrading the rodent cage wash facility in room CB13/28, by expanding and renovating the staff training area, and by renovating and upgrading corridor floors and doors (approximately 7,000 sf.) The cage wash renovation will free up adequate space to add two procedure rooms for researchers. Specific Aim 3. To improve the health and quality of non-human primates by installing a reverse osmosis purified water system and an environmental monitoring system. Specific Aim 4. To protect the research animals and animal-related data through the addition of silent alarms on 12 exit doors and the capability for electronic monitoring of the CAF. Accomplishing these specific aims will enable UK to provide the facilities for medical research involving animals and adapt to major changes in species utilization in animal research.