Laboratory Animal Resource Improvements - Utah State University

描述（由申请人提供）：实验动物研究中心（LARC）是犹他州立大学（USU）校园内唯一可用于居住和照顾实验动物的设施。LARC的目标是为饲养的动物提供高于联邦法规和认证机构规定的标准的护理水平，同时维护实验动物、研究人员和工作人员的健康和安全。另一个目标是为使用该设施的研究人员提供实现研究目标的手段，并在生物医学、营养和行为科学领域产生有意义的研究成果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Laboratory Animal Research Center (LARC) is the only facility on the Utah State University (USU) campus available for the housing and care of laboratory animals. The objective of the LARC is to provide the animals housed therein with a level of care above the standards set by federal regulations and accrediting agencies while maintaining the health and safety of laboratory animals, researchers, and staff. An additional objective is to provide the investigators using the facility with the means to achieve research goals and produce meaningful research results in the fields of biomedical, nutritional, and behavioral sciences. This application requests funds for the purchase of equipment intended to allow the LARC to implement a centralized and uniformly effective program of research animal care in support of PHS funded research programs. Specific aims include the acquisition of equipment to improve and expand our rodent housing system, increase animal housing density, improve rodent survival surgery capabilities, improve sanitation and decontamination procedures, expand and enhance our current animal health surveillance program, and offer new research tools to investigators to strengthen ongoing and future research projects. Completion of the improvements described in this application will enhance animal health and welfare for research animals at USU involved in PHS funded research, enhance the central animal care program through improved diagnostics and disease control, and assist in complying with USDA, PHS, and AAALAC standards of animal care and welfare.