South Biomedical Science Tower Vivarium Refurbishment Project

描述（由申请人提供）：匹兹堡大学实验动物资源部（DLAR）是一个核心资源，为该大学的动物研究项目提供高质量的人道动物护理服务和支持。DLAR包括16个独立的动物设施，分布在奥克兰大学校园20英里半径内的7个不同社区，包括南生物医学科学塔（S-BST），这是本申请的主题。本赠款申请的具体目的是申请50万美元的资金，以改善S-BST动物饲养场9楼S9 A和S9 B走廊附近的大型动物饲养和手术空间的容量、条件和质量，该饲养场面积为5,439平方英尺。通过将最近由水上运动项目腾出的一个房间转换为灵活的大型动物饲养区来扩大容量，该项目在DLAR内重新安置，该区域将采用移动的大型动物笼舍系统，该系统可以轻松配置以容纳各种大型动物物种。移动的笼系统的收购是不是这个赠款申请的一部分。将通过重铺破损的地板和更换过时和日益恶化的笼子系统来改善条件。将通过增加天花板悬挂系统来提高质量，以允许改进物种适当的心理富集装置、监测装置的放置，以及用于静脉输液的袋和管的悬挂。这一改进将使匹兹堡大学健康科学学院进行动物生物医学研究的广泛研究人员受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) at the University of Pittsburgh is a core resource that provides high quality humane animal care services and support for the animal- based research programs at the University. The DLAR comprises 16 separate animal facilities spread out among seven different neighborhoods within a 20 mile radius of the Oakland campus of the University, including the South Biomedical Science Tower (S-BST) which is the subject of this request for funds if awarded. The specific aim of this grant application is to request funds in the amount of $500,000 to improve the capacity, condition and quality of the large animal housing and procedure space contiguous to Corridors S9A and S9B on the 9th floor of the S-BST vivarium which totals 5,439 square feet. Capacity will be expanded by converting a room recently vacated by an aquatics program that relocated within the DLAR for use as a flexible large animal housing area that will employ mobile large animal caging systems that can be easily configured to accommodate a variety of large animal species. Acquisition of the mobile caging systems is not part of this grant application. Conditions will be improved by resurfacing deteriorated flooring and replacing outmoded and deteriorating caging systems. Quality will be improved by adding a ceiling mounted suspension system to allow for improved placement of species appropriate psychological enrichment devices, monitoring devices, and for suspension of bags and tubing for the intravenous administration of fluids. This improvement will benefit a broad array of investigators conducting animal-based biomedical research throughout the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences.