Expansion of a Zebrafish Research Core Facility

描述（由申请人提供）：我们寻求资金，以翻新和扩大集中斑马鱼动物资源（CZAR），核心设施斑马鱼研究在犹他州大学（U的U）。斑马鱼的研究是美国大学生物医学研究的一个重要焦点。我们的研究人员使用这种模式生物来揭示心脏病、癌症、肌肉萎缩症、对病原体的反应、神经系统的发育和其他医学上重要的疾病的机制。来自八个部门的20多名教师目前使用CZAR。在CZAR进行的研究得到了主要生物医学资助机构的支持，包括NIH，HHMI，ACS，AHA，MDA和March of Dimes，目前每年获得约7，800，000美元的直接费用资助。待审批的赠款申请（截至2013年7月）要求每年增加约2，000，000美元的直接成本资金。在CZAR进行的研究已发表在顶级生物医学期刊上，包括（过去5-6年）Science，Nature，Cell，Nature Genetics，Nature Methods，Neuron，Cell Metabolism，Developmental Cell，PNAS（USA），PLoS Genetics，Genes & Development和Development。因此，我们寻求扩大的设施促进了尖端的生物医学研究，并在支持美国大学的生物医学研究方面发挥了非常重要的作用。CZAR成立于2001年，由U of U和NIH通过G20资助机制提供配套资金。它的目的是支持五个早期到中期的职业调查员的研究计划。在一个大胆的创新举措，在2002年，CZAR成为一个开放访问的共享使用的核心设施，服务于整个U的U社区，接受每年的运营支持和定期仪器资金从U的U。除了动物饲养、护理和统一监督外，作为核心设施，CZAR还提供：1）实验程序的空间和设备; 2）教学和专业知识; 3）获得尖端技术; 4）多个研究小组之间的合作机会。据我们所知，CZAR是美国第一个斑马鱼研究的大学核心设施。核心吸引了许多建立在U的研究人员开始与斑马鱼的工作，并已成为我们的能力招募许多初级斑马鱼研究人员在U的健康科学中心的基础（五个新的教师在过去四年）。沙皇急需扩张目前有80多名各级研究人员使用核心，在过去的5年里，核心一直以90%以上的住房容量运行。新招聘的教师，最近获得了美国国立卫生研究院的赠款“计划，以加强斑马鱼研究”（PAR-11-130和-131），以及“总监新创新者奖计划”（RFA-RM-12-016）资助产生新的突变体和转基因品系，供全球斑马鱼研究界使用，最近在U of U开发的基因敲除和基因靶向技术提供了新的研究机会，需要增加CZAR的住房和实验空间。目前的CZAR包括3646平方英尺;它包含70个6层60”机架（5040个3升水箱），用于斑马鱼的标准住房，以及一个用于隔离动物的机架。拟议的1，129，380美元项目将扩大CZAR的容量超过50%。我们向美国国立卫生研究院申请50万美元，其余的将由美国大学提供。该项目的具体目标是：1）改造现有的1，923平方英尺的建筑空间，紧邻目前的CZAR，以扩大目前的CZAR; 2）购买和安装36个新的6层60”货架，从而增加斑马鱼在CZAR的住房容量51%; 3）将我们的检疫能力增加一倍;以及4）创建新的实验程序区域，包括用于停止周期生产鸡蛋的房间。该项目涉及《行动纲领》的几个目标。它有效地满足了进行公共卫生系统资助的生物医学研究的需求。由于它作为一个共享使用的核心设施，该设施可以有效地利用，以适应个别研究项目不断变化的需求。通过在目前的CZAR核心设施范围内扩大U的斑马鱼住房容量，该设施在全职，经验丰富的专业人员的监督下运营，该项目保证了对动物的最高质量护理，并严格遵守USDA动物福利法和DHHS有关实验室动物护理和使用的政策。最后，拟议的翻新项目自始至终采用了可持续设计技术和设计方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We seek funds to renovate and expand the Centralized Zebrafish Animal Resource (CZAR), the Core Facility for Zebrafish Research at the University of Utah (U of U). Research with zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a significant focus of biomedical research at the U of U. Our investigators use this model organism to uncover mechanisms responsible for heart disease, cancers, muscular dystrophies, response to pathogens, development of the nervous system, and other medically important conditions. More than 20 faculty members from eight Departments currently use the CZAR. Research performed in the CZAR has been supported by major biomedical funding agencies, including NIH, HHMI, ACS, AHA, MDA, and March of Dimes, and is currently supported by ~$7,800,000 in annual direct cost funding from grants. Pending grant applications (as of July, 2013) request an additional ~$2,000,000 in annual direct cost funding. Research performed in the CZAR has been published in top-tier biomedical journals, including (past 5-6 years) Science, Nature, Cell, Nature Genetics, Nature Methods, Neuron, Cell Metabolism, Developmental Cell, PNAS (USA), PLoS Genetics, Genes & Development, and Development. Thus, the facility we seek to expand facilitates cutting edge biomedical research and plays a highly significant role in supporting biomedical research at the U of U. The CZAR was established in 2001 with matching funds from the U of U and the NIH through the G20 funding mechanism. It was designed to support the research programs of five early-to-mid-career investigators. In a bold and innovative move, in 2002 the CZAR became an open-access shared-use Core Facility serving the entire U of U community, receiving yearly operational support and periodic instrumentation funds from the U of U. In addition to animal housing, care, and uniform oversight, as a Core Facility the CZAR provides: 1) space and equipment for experimental procedures; 2) teaching and expertise; 3) access to sophisticated technologies; and 4) opportunities for collaborations among multiple research groups. As best we know, the CZAR was the first University Core Facility for Zebrafish Research in the US. The Core has attracted many established researchers at the U of U to begin working with the zebrafish and has become the basis of our ability to recruit many junior zebrafish investigators to the Health Sciences Center at the U of U (five new faculty in the past four years). The CZAR is in desperate need of expansion. More than 80 researchers of all levels currently utilize the Core, which has been operating at 90+% housing capacity for the past 5 years. Newly recruited faculty, recently awarded grants from the NIH "Programs to Enhance Zebrafish Research" (PAR-11-130 and -131), and the "Director's New Innovator Award Program" (RFA-RM-12-016) funded to generate new mutants and transgenic lines for use by the worldwide zebrafish research community, and new research opportunities afforded by the gene knock-out and gene-targeting technologies recently developed at the U of U require increased housing and experimental space in the CZAR. The current CZAR comprises 3646 sq ft; it contains 70 6- shelf 60" racks (5040 3-liter tanks) for standard housing of zebrafish, and one rack for holding animals in quarantine. The proposed $1,129,380 project will expand the capacity of the CZAR by over 50%. We request $500,000 from the NIH; the rest will be provided by the U of U. The specific aims of this project are to: 1) Renovate 1,923 sq ft of existing building space that is immediately adjacent to the current CZAR to expand the current CZAR; 2) Purchase and install 36 new 6-shelf 60" racks and thus increase zebrafish the housing capacity in the CZAR by 51%; 3) Double our quarantine capacity; and 4) Create new experimental procedure areas, including a room for off-cycle production of eggs. The project addresses several objectives of the FOA. It efficiently accommodates demonstrated needs for conducting PHS-funded biomedical research. Because it functions as a shared-use Core Facility, the facility can be used efficiently to accommodate the changing needs of individual research projects. By expanding zebrafish housing capacity at the U of U within the purview of the current CZAR Core Facility, which is operated under the supervision of a full-time, highly experienced profession staff, the project guarantees the highest quality of care to animals and rigorous compliance with USDA Animal Welfare Act and the DHHS policies related to the care and use of laboratory animals. Finally, the proposed renovation project has employed sustainable design technologies and design approaches throughout.