Renovation of UCHC's Center for Laboratory Animal Care Core Facilities

描述（由申请人提供）：康涅狄格大学健康中心（UCHC）位于康涅狄格州法明顿市，是该州的生物医学研究、临床护理以及医学、牙科和研究生的公共教育和研究培训中心。UCHC申请2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（ARRA）资金910万美元，用于翻新，现代化和改进位于37年历史的实验动物护理中心（CLAC）的笼子处理设施（CPF）和手术套房核心设施。这些设施分别位于UCHC大厦B、L及K的相邻地下室，总面积为22500平方英尺/ 15480平方英尺。CLAC是校园里照顾和使用实验动物的主要场所，支持136名研究人员的研究项目（其中68名是NIH的独立研究人员）。目前，美国国立卫生研究院对动物研究的积极支持（4570万美元）包括：111个研究人员发起的项目，3个职业发展奖，3个培训补助金和6个奖学金。为了保持高水平的动物护理，确保持续的实验室动物护理评估和认证协会（AAALAC）认证，为新的研究人员管理额外的物种，并提高当前和未来nih资助的研究人员的研究能力，UCHC建议翻新CPF和手术套件核心设施，并购买现代化的节能设备用于这些核心。CPF核心设施有明显的不足，特别是其过时的，能源效率低下的散装高压灭菌器，隧道，笼和机架洗衣机。目前用于去除床上用品的工艺将被高效的、符合人体工程学设计的真空床上用品去除和自动床上用品分配系统所取代。CPF和高压灭菌器设施的翻新和新设备的采购将大大提高CLAC的整体运作效率，纠正CPF工作人员的工作条件和人体工程学问题，并采用可持续技术减少水和能源消耗。CLAC手术室目前的配置以及手术室和动物准备室之间缺乏隔离导致程序效率低下，并造成污染和感染的风险。手术室的翻新和改进将大大提高UCHC研究界和附属研究人员的科学计划。将CPF和手术室改造结合到一个项目中，最大限度地减少了操作中断，实现了成本效益。采用可持续设计原则，CLAC CPF和手术套件核心设施的翻新是对ARRA目标的回应，这个建设项目将立即创造新的就业机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC), located in Farmington, Connecticut, serves as the State's center for biomedical research, clinical care, and the public education and research training of medical, dental and graduate students. UCHC requests $9.1M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to renovate, modernize, and improve the Cage Processing Facility (CPF) and surgical suite core facilities located in the 37-year old Center for Laboratory Animal Care (CLAC). These facilities span the adjacent basements in UCHC Building B, L and K and occupy 22,500 gross/15,480 net assignable square feet. CLAC operates as the campus' primary site for the care and use of laboratory animals, supporting the research projects of 136 researchers (68 of whom are independent NIH investigators). Current, active NIH support ($45.7M) that funds research involving animals includes: 111 researcher-initiated projects, 3 career development awards, 3 training grants, and 6 fellowships. To maintain a high level of animal care, assure continued Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) accreditation, manage additional species for new investigators, and enhance the research capabilities of current and future NIH-funded investigators, UCHC proposes renovating the CPF and surgical suite core facilities and purchasing modern, energy-efficient equipment for use in these cores. The CPF core facility has significant deficiencies, particularly its outdated, energy-inefficient bulk autoclaves, tunnel, and cage and rack washers. The current process used for bedding removal will be replaced with an efficient, ergonomically designed vacuum bedding removal and automated bedding dispensing system. Renovation of the CPF and autoclave facilities and new equipment purchases will significantly improve overall operational efficiencies in CLAC, correct problematic working conditions and ergonomic issues for the staff in the CPF and employ sustainable technologies to reduce water and energy consumption. The current configuration of the CLAC surgical suite and the lack of separation between the operating room and the animal preparation rooms lead to procedural inefficiencies and pose a risk of contamination and infection. Renovations and improvement to the surgical suite will significantly enhance the scientific programs of the UCHC research community and affiliated investigators. Combining CPF and surgical suite renovations into a single project minimizes operational disruptions and achieves cost efficiencies. Renovation, using sustainable design principles, of the CLAC CPF and surgical suite core facilities is responsive to the goals of the ARRA and this construction project will immediately create new jobs.