EXPANSION AND CENTRALIZATION OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HOUSING

描述(由申请人提供)： 马萨诸塞大学医学院(UMMS)有一个使用水生动物的快速增长的研究项目。最近开放的Aquatic Core是为斑马鱼设计的，满足了使用该物种的两名研究人员的需求。然而，随着第三名主要使用斑马鱼的教员的到来，第四名同样大量使用斑马鱼的新教员即将到来，以及非常积极地招聘额外的研究人员，密歇根大学认识到有必要扩大针对斑马鱼和其他水生物种的水生核心。 密歇根州立大学建议扩建现有的水生核心，为斑马鱼提供更多空间，并集中安置非洲爪哇、大蟾蜍和海洋无脊椎动物。非洲爪哇目前被安置在三个地点，大蟾蜍和海洋无脊椎动物被安置在卫星设施中。非洲爪哇的空间非常有限。该提案还将提供为这些动物提供住所和生命支持所需的设备，以及有限的通用研究设备。 这项提议如果获得资助，将为上述动物提供最先进的集中收容设施，极大地提高水生动物护理的效率，并为所有水生动物研究人员提供所需的科学设备。它还将监测斑马鱼和非洲爪哇的直接水环境，以及所有物种的室内环境。同样重要的是，它将使密歇根大学的研究人员能够进行大量的斑马鱼基因筛选和杂交，这是其整体斑马鱼研究工作的关键部分。所需的基础研究设备将供斑马鱼和非洲爪哇用户使用，并将大大加强密歇根大学水生动物研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) has a rapidly growing research program using aquatic animals. The recently opened Aquatic Core was designed for zebra fish and met the needs of the two investigators using that species. However, with the arrival of a third faculty member who is a major zebrafish user, the pending arrival of a fourth new faculty member who is also a heavy zebrafish user, and the very active recruiting for additional research faculty, UMMS recognizes the need to expand the Aquatic Core for both zebrafish and other aquatic species. UMMS proposes to expand the existing the Aquatic Core to provide additional space for zebrafish and to centralize the housing of Xenopus, Bufo and marine invertebrates. Xenopus are currently housed at three sites and Bufo and marine invertebrates are at satellite facilities. Xenopus space is very limited. This proposal will also provide for the equipment necessary to house and provide the life support for these animals, and limited common-use research equipment. This proposal, if funded, will provide state of the art centralized housing facilities for the above noted animals, vastly increase the efficiency of aquatic animal care, and provide needed scientific equipment for use by all aquatic animal researchers. It will also provide for the monitoring of the immediate aquatic environment of zebrafish and Xenopus, and the room environment for all species. Equally important, it will enable UMMS researchers to perform the large number of zebrafish genetic screens and crosses which are a critical part of its overall zebrafish research effort. The requested basic research equipment will be used by both zebrafish and Xenopus users and will significantly augment UMMS aquatic animal research.