Developing and Improving Institutional Animal Resources at Vanderbilt University

描述（由申请人提供）：范德比尔特大学（VU）的研究企业近年来显著增长，并制定了一项新的战略计划，以继续推动到2020年的增长。这种增长在使用小鼠的程序中尤其明显。自2004年以来，4200万美元的资本改善已投资于支持似曾相识的动物研究计划。额外的改进计划，并被视为至关重要的似曾相识的研究企业的持续成功。本申请要求资金购买单独通风笼系统（IVC）和工作站需要维护似曾相识动物研究基础设施，提高普雷斯顿研究大楼（PRB）啮齿动物设施的运营效率。IVC和工作站将取代PRB 889 B中使用的能源/空间效率低下且即将过时的设备。这些改进将用于支持正在进行的研究163生产VU研究人员与总超过$35万NIH奖（年度直接成本）从13个研究所。如果获得资助，该应用程序将为范德比尔特提供一种机制，以维护现有的基础设施，同时继续投资于支持新举措和成功研究计划增长所需的空间和设备。此外，所要求的IVC更具能源和空间效率，这与该机构保护自然资源和减少碳足迹的倡议相一致。根据ARRA立法，美国的IVC制造商（Allentown，Inc.）据估计，每购买一个IVC机架，这些公司拥有超过15，000名美国员工。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Vanderbilt University (VU) research enterprise has grown significantly in recent years, and a new strategic plan is in place to continue to drive growth through 2020. This growth has been particularly evident in programs using mice. Since 2004 $42M in capital improvements have been invested in support of VU's animal research program. Additional improvements are planned and seen as critical to the continued success of the VU research enterprise. This application requests funds to purchase individually ventilated cage systems (IVCs) and work stations needed to maintain VU animal research infrastructure and improve operational efficiency of the Preston Research Building (PRB) Rodent Facility. The IVCs and work stations will replace equipment used in PRB 889B that is energy/space inefficient and approaching obsolescence. The improvements will be used to support the ongoing research of 163 productive VU investigators with a total of over $35 million in NIH awards (annual direct costs) from 13 institutes. If funded, this application will provide a mechanism for Vanderbilt to maintain existing infrastructure while it continues to invest in space and equipment required to support new initiatives and growth of its successful research programs. In addition, the IVCs requested are more energy- and space-efficient which is consistent the institution's initiative to conserve natural resources and reduce its carbon footprint. In keeping with ARRA legislation, the U.S. based manufacturer of the IVCs (Allentown, Inc.) estimates that every IVC rack purchased supports 30 U.S.-based companies employing over 15,000 U.S. individuals.