Animal Facility Operations Renovation

描述（由申请人提供）：索尔克生物研究所是一个非营利性的研究机构，致力于在生命科学方面做出基础性发现，改善人类健康，培养下一代研究人员。索尔克可以说是世界上最高水平的研究机构之一，处于新发现的最前沿。在客观衡量教师的贡献及其研究成果的影响方面，该研究所一直名列领先的研究机构之列。癌症研究动物设施（CRAF）最初建于1978年，支持多种实验动物，包括美国农业部在索尔克覆盖的所有物种。CRAF支持系统神经科学、免疫生物学和微生物发病机制、干细胞生物学和代谢研究的主要研究社区。CRAF洗笼作业设备已接近其预期生命周期的尾声，需要持续的维护和服务，并且只能勉强支持现有的程序化作业。Salk今年将首次获得AAALAC认证，而CRAF的运营翻新是必要的，以满足当代卫生标准。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is a non-profit research institution devoted to making fundamental discoveries in the life sciences, the improvement of human health and the training of future generations of researchers. Salk is arguably one of the highest caliber research organizations in the world and is at the forefront of novel discoveries. The Institute consistently ranks among the leading research institutions in objective measures of the contributions of faculty and the impact of their findings. The Cancer Research Animal Facility (CRAF) was originally built in 1978 and supports multiple species of laboratory animals, including all USDA covered species at Salk. CRAF supports a premier research community of systems neuroscience, immunobiology and microbial pathogenesis, stem cell biology, and metabolic research. CRAF cagewash operational equipment is near the end of its expected lifecycle, requires ongoing maintenance and service and marginally supports existing programmatic operations. The Salk is pursuing, for the first time, AAALAC Accreditation this year and CRAF operational renovations are necessary to meet contemporary standards of sanitation. This proposal seeks funds to help with necessary facility improvements designed to ensure effective and routine sanitation, minimize risks of facility contamination, improve workplace safety, reduce ergonomic risk factors and provide administrative support to facilitate specialized research needs. These goals will be accomplished by replacement of an aging CRAF cagewash tunnel washer and components, renovation of cagewash walls, floors, and ceilings, implementation of portable ergonomic equipment, and renovation of administrative and training support space within the vivarium.