Improving Waisman Center Animal Care Facility

描述（由申请人提供）：威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的怀斯曼中心是美国国立卫生研究院资助的13个研究发育性残疾和神经退行性疾病的中心之一，具有广泛的使命，包括研究、培训和临床活动。自1973年成立以来，该中心一直将动物设施作为其基础设施的关键组成部分和科学核心服务之一，但几乎没有对该设施进行升级，以使其能够跟上当前科学的需求。在过去的六年里，内部和外部审查都发现了我们动物设施中需要解决的关键缺陷。18个月前，主垫圈和备用垫圈都发生了故障，无法维修，迫使整个工厂撤离。我们制定了一项全面的翻新计划，总费用约为270万美元（大部分由大学和捐赠基金支付）。此次改造的目标是通过以下方式支持韦斯曼中心的调查人员和附属机构：1)提高目前仅限啮齿动物的设施的能力；2)通过增加微隔离的使用来改善屏障功能；在选定的区域购买和安装生物危害罩；购买和安装用于支持免疫缺陷动物的现场高压灭菌器；安装一次性袋式供水系统，安装天花板以改善环境控制，并修复整个地板，4)通过安装视频监控系统和卡访问控制来提高安全性，5)创建一套优化的房间，用于长期行为研究，与设施的屏障部分分开。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of thirteen NIH-funded centers focused on developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases, with a broad mission that encompasses research, training, and clinical activities. Since its inception in 1973 the Center has included an animal facility as a key element of its infrastructure and one of its scientific core services, yet little has been done to upgrade the facility to allow it to keep pace with the needs of current science. During the past six years both internal and external reviews identified critical shortcomings in our animal facility that needed to be addressed. Eighteen months ago both the main and backup cage-washers failed and could not be repaired, forcing evacuation of the entire facility. We have formulated a comprehensive plan for renovation, the overall cost of which is approximately $2.7 million (the majority paid for by university and gift funds). The goal of this renovation is to support Waisman Center investigators and affiliates by 1) increasing capacity in what is now a rodent-only facility, 2) improving barrier functions through increased use of microisolation, purchase and installation of biohazard hoods for selected areas, purchase and installation of an on-site autoclave for support of immunodeficient animals, and creation of dedicated quarantine space, 3) upgrading infrastructure by replacing outdated equipment for cage washing, installing, a disposable pouch system for supplying drinking water, installing ceilings to improve environmental control, and repairing flooring throughout, 4) improving security by installation of video surveillance systems and card-access controls, and 5) creating a suite of rooms optimized for long-term behavioral studies that is separate from the barrier portion of the facility.