UPGRADE OF ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT IN ANIMAL FACILITIES III

描述（由申请人提供）： 德雷克塞尔大学医学院目前每年有超过2500万美元的资金来自PHS和其他校外来源。我们已开始实施一项战略增长计划，到2006年将我们外部资助的研究和培训增加一倍。实现这一目标的精髓是我们的设施，以适应我们的教师，员工和学生不断增长的研究需求所需的增强。皇后巷医学院的动物设施满足了两个研究密集型基础科学部门（微生物学与免疫学和神经生物学与解剖学）以及其他神经科学领域工作人员的需求。为了部分解决该动物设施中现有的缺陷，我们之前向NCRR提交了一份CO 6拨款申请（1 C 06 RR 17558-01），要求为手术、手术、检疫和储存空间提供资金。鉴于分数，预计这笔赠款将在2003年7月之前到位。本提案应被视为我们先前资助的赠款申请的延伸，以进一步纠正该动物设施的缺陷，并支持壁外资助的研究人员的紧急需求。最近在该设施的啮齿动物群体中爆发了小鼠肝炎病毒，需要减少种群并终止许多关键实验，这进一步突出了进行拟议改进的必要性。本提案的具体目的是：1）在传统和屏障设施中安装12（十二）个II级A2型生物安全柜; 2）获取啮齿动物笼的微型隔离器顶部; 3）提供适当的应急电源插座以支持生物安全柜;以及4）升级现有GETINGE（r）Novus I高真空蒸汽灭菌器上的微处理器控制面板。总的来说，拟议的现有设施的改进/现代化将提供一个处理外来啮齿动物病原体（如小鼠肝炎病毒等）的上级和最具成本效益的方法。保护动物和研究人员免受污染。这些急需的改进将进一步促进该机构PHS资助的研究的预期增长，并使我们能够遵守USDA动物福利法和DHHS政策中有关实验室动物的适当护理和使用的规定。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Drexel University College of Medicine currently has >$25 million/year in funding from PHS and other extramural sources. We have embarked on a strategic growth plan to double our externally funded research and training by year 2006. Quintessential to accomplishing this goal is the required enhancement of our facilities to accommodate the growing research needs of our faculty, staff, and students. The animal facilities at the Queen Lane medical campus serve the needs of investigators in two research-intensive basic science departments (Microbiology & Immunology and Neurobiology & Anatomy) and others working in the area of neurosciences. To partially address the existing deficiencies in this animal facility, we had previously submitted a CO6 grant application (1 C06 RR 17558-01) to the NCRR requesting funding for procedural, surgical, quarantine, and storage space. Given the score, it is anticipated that this grant will be funded as of July 2003. The present proposal should be viewed as an extension of our previously funded grant application to further rectify the deficiencies in this animal facility and to support the emergent needs of extramurally funded research investigators. The need to undertake the proposed enhancements has been further accentuated by the recent outbreak of Mouse Hepatitis Virus in the rodent colony in this facility necessitating the de-population and termination of many critical experiments. The specific aims of this proposal are to: 1) install 12 (twelve) Class II Type A2 biological safety cabinets in conventional and barrier facilities; 2) acquire Microisolator tops for rodent cages; 3) provide appropriate emergency electrical outlets to support biological safety cabinets; and 4) upgrade the microprocessor control panel on the existing GETINGE(r) Novus I High Vacuum Steam Sterilizer. Collectively, the proposed enhancements/modernization of the existing facility would provide a superior and most cost-effective way of dealing with adventitious rodent pathogens (such as mouse hepatitis virus, etc.) and protect both animals and research personnel from contamination. These much needed improvements would further facilitate the projected growth of PHS-funded research in this institution and allow us to maintain compliance with the provisions of the USDA Animal Welfare Act and DHHS policies related to the proper care and use of laboratory animals.