Vivarium Core Summary The objective of this core is to support the operations of the Vivarium facility at Delaware State University and ensure that it provides both efficient operations to support the research of COBRE investigators at DSU and high quality care for our rodent research subjects. The research of several faculty members supported by the Phase I and Phase II COBRE awards depends on the operation of the vivarium for husbandry of mouse models for their research. Our COBRE Vivarium core will provide support and staff to maintain operations of our new rodent housing facility which was renovated with support from our Phase I COBRE grant, and which became fully operational in early 2017. COBRE support for the Vivarium Core at DSU will maintain the animal care staff including animal care technician, a facility manager and partial support for a veterinarian, so that the facility can provide outstanding animal care for COBRE-affiliated researchers to increase their research productivity. As the level of funding for faculty research grows eventually the facility can be sustained by charges to faculty research grants. We also propose to purchase and install the Tecniplast DVC® (Digital Ventilated Caging) complete system in the Vivarium. The complete system allows for 24/7 monitoring of food and water levels, as embedded sensors into the lateral runners detect the presence of food and water bottles cage by cage. The system evaluates bedding conditions and identifies when cages need to be changed reducing running costs, avoiding unnecessary animal handling, and providing 24/7 detection of unexpected water floods due to mishaps with water bottles. The round- the-clock animal activity detection allows for continuous animal welfare information, and since vital animal parameters (drinking, feeding, anomalies in locomotor activity) can be detected remotely, it will reduce the personnel entering the animal facilities. Real-time monitoring the environmental parameters and cage characteristics will also add precision to the timing of cage changes and other care-taking activities, reducing the need for staff time. With automated 24/7 tracking of the status of the cage environment and animal activity, the DVC system significantly improves animal welfare and facility efficiency and productivity, while providing researchers with a unique data stream that can improve the translational potential of their animal models. Continuation of the COBRE- supported Vivarium core will significantly advance the research program of COBRE investigators and help DSU recruit outstanding candidates for future faculty openings.