Space Optimization, Allergen Mitigation, and Improved Microenvironmental Conditions in a Shared Use Animal Facility at Florida State University

项目摘要 该提案要求提供资金，以购买Tecniplast Emerald EM500单独通风 笼（IVC）系统，以实现现代化，并将最新的IVC技术纳入共享使用 佛罗里达州立大学（FSU）的动物园。FSU动物护理和使用计划准备 经历了前所未有的增长，由于大学校长的大胆和雄心勃勃的 通过提高生活能力，将年度研究经费从3.28亿美元增加到5亿美元 科学，医学研究和健康数据科学，并雇用约170名新的，完整的， 时间，终身教职。全项目范围内使用的开放式和微型隔离器屏蔽不能 支持现有设施内的预期增长。此外，FSU的扩张 研究企业无疑将转化为增加工作， 免疫功能低下的啮齿动物和危险因子，由于缺乏适当的 工程控制，大学目前装备不良处理。此外，最近 由FSU研究副总裁办公室委托进行的咨询研究 （OVPR）已经确定了职业健康问题，特别是人员暴露于 与开顶式笼舍的广泛使用相关的实验室动物过敏原。的目标 该项目将获得六个单面鼠标架，三个双面鼠标架， 用于生物医学研究机构（BRF）动物园的单侧大鼠架，结合使用， 提供1，092个鼠笼位，并增加 动物园162%。除了空间优化，IVC技术的要求，预计 为减轻职业过敏原暴露风险，提供适当的工程控制， 与免疫功能低下的啮齿动物和危险物质一起工作， FSU动物资源的微环境条件。业务创新和 这一成功对人员健康和安全以及动物福利的好处 该提案将使FSU和LAR处于独特的地位，以满足新兴研究的需求 企业和当前和未来NIH资助的研究人员的需求。

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal requests funds to acquire Tecniplast Emerald EM500 individually ventilated caging (IVC) systems to modernize and incorporate the latest IVC technology into a shared use vivarium at Florida State University (FSU). The FSU Animal Care and Use Program is poised to experience unprecedented growth as a result of the University President’s bold and ambitious agenda to increase annual research funding from $328M to $500M by building capacity in life sciences, medical research, and health data sciences and by hiring approximately 170 new, full- time, tenure-track faculty. The open-top and microisolator caging used program-wide cannot support the anticipated growth within existing facilities. Moreover, the expansion of the FSU research enterprise will undoubtedly translate into an increase in work with immunocompromised rodents and hazardous agents, which due to the lack of appropriate engineering controls, the University is presently ill-equipped to handle. Additionally, recent consultancy studies commissioned by the FSU Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) have identified occupational health concerns, specifically personnel exposure to laboratory animal allergens associated with the widespread use of open-top caging. The goal of this project is to acquire six single-sided mouse racks, three double-sided mouse racks, and one single-sided rat rack for the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF) vivarium, which, in combination, will provide 1,092 cage spaces for rodents and increase the mouse cage holding capacity of the vivarium by 162%. In addition to space optimization, the IVC technology requested is expected to mitigate occupational allergen exposure risks, provide appropriate engineering controls for work with immunocompromised rodents and hazardous agents, and improve microenvironmental conditions for FSU animal resources. The operational innovation and benefits to personnel health and safety and animal welfare achieved by the success of this proposal will uniquely position FSU and LAR to meet the demands of a burgeoning research enterprise and the needs of current and future NIH-funded investigators.