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Modernizing Sterilization Infrastructure for Reliable and Economical Rodent Barrier Operations

Award Number: S15OD042593
ORGANIZATION: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, NIH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2027

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Modernizing Sterilization Infrastructure for Reliable and Economical Rodent Barrier Operations - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) requests support to modernize the cage sterilization capacity of the Irving Cancer Research Center (ICRC) vivarium by replacing a bulk steam autoclave with a Gruenberg Steri-Dry™ bulk dry-heat sterilizer. The ICRC vivarium provides barrier housing for patient-derived xenografts (PDX), immunocompromised and humanized mouse strains, and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) that support the research of over 80 investigators, more than 85% of whom are NIH-funded. These models are central to Columbia’s NCI-designated Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) and enable research in tumor biology, immuno-oncology, cancer genomics, and translational therapeutics. Dry-heat sterilization offers equivalent sterility assurance to steam autoclaving while delivering major advantages in cost, reliability, and workflow. The proposed system uses only electricity, eliminating the demand for steam and water and lowering utility costs by more than 70% annually. On a per-cycle basis, dry heat costs $14.21 versus $28.32 for steam, and avoids approximately $4,500 in annual cage replacement costs caused by steam-induced polymer damage. Overall, this represents nearly 75% annual savings. Operational efficiency is also improved: unlike steam, dry heat sterilization produces cages that are sterile, dry, and free of baked-on bedding, reducing labor and enabling same-day sterile setups for irreplaceable and immunocompromised models. This upgrade will directly enhance research reproducibility and animal welfare while reducing the institutional and research costs borne by investigators. In the long term, it will also allow Columbia to decommission the inefficient ICRC steam plant, a single-building system that is expensive to maintain and a barrier to campus- wide energy modernization. By lowering steam demand, the project supports the University’s future infrastructure renewal goals, including transition to a combined heat and power plant for more efficient campus-wide energy generation.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $350,000 )
2026	2026	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	630 W 168TH ST FL 4	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Research Infrastructure Programs	000	1	8/18/2026	NEW	$350,000
														Subtotal = $350,000

Grand Total All Awards = $350,000

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Modernizing Sterilization Infrastructure for Reliable and Economical Rodent Barrier Operations

Award Number: S15OD042593

ORGANIZATION: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, NIH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2027

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