Modernization of Sterilization Equipment in the UK Todd Vivarium - Project Summary/Abstract: The conduct of quality biomedical research is dependent upon the availability of rodents that are free of several important diseases. Thus, the cage wash facility of a vivarium is essential for ensuring the prevention of both cross-contamination of sensitive animal models and outbreaks of opportunistic infections in immune-deficient strains. This proposal requests a modern, eco-friendly, dry heat sterilizer, which will substantially enhance the operations of the university’s Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, specifically the research-supporting functions that advance facility operations to accommodate a rapidly expanding biomedical research enterprise through enhanced throughput, increased capacity for housing sensitive rodent models, improved biosecurity for animal colonies, and innovative green technologies for savings in energy and water. Completed for occupancy in February 2010, the Lee T. Todd, Jr. animal facility was designed to provide a daily inventory of up to 2,000 sterile mouse cages with appropriate autoclave capacity to meet this demand out of a total 11,000 IVC cages. The initial sterile cage capacity was sufficient to maintain rodents in a rigorously defined microflora status following rederivation as well as to support immune deficient mouse models, however the increasing number of researchers and mice in the West Research Complex is outstripping this capacity. Since the Todd Building’s opening, dry heat sterilizers have begun to be used more frequently in animal facilities instead of traditional bulk autoclaves for sterilizing rodent cages, bedding, and feed, presenting a unique opportunity to explore more innovative solutions. These more-modern sterilizers have less-complex technology, resulting in considerably fewer maintenance requirements; lower initial project costs to deploy; lower operational costs; and lower infrastructure costs. Smaller, less demanding autoclaves can be used for sterilization of other items (e.g water bottles) to maximize the higher efficiency of the dry heat units. In order for UK’s researchers to realize these advantages, the aim of this proposal is to modernize the sterilization equipment within the Todd Building animal facility by installing a Gruenberg Steri-Dry dry heat sterilizer and a smaller autoclave. Modernizing the current cage sterilization system in this facility will allow the UK’s researchers to continue fostering cutting-edge discovery and innovation. Notably, the new equipment will provide much needed infrastructure to support, improve, and expand the research of UK’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, NIH-funded Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), and numerous additional NIH-funded programs and investigators. In addition, the modernization of this cage wash equipment is a critical component of UK’s Research Strategic Plan to enhance NIH-funded biomedical research and support health focused research programs that benefit both Kentuckians and populations beyond the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
