# Modernization of Small Animal Caging for infectious disease studies at the Boise VAMC

> **NIH NIH R24** · IDAHO VETERANS RESEARCH / EDUCATION FDN · 2023 · $213,851

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 While static caging for husbandry of small animals is accepted by the Guide, ventilated caging has
become the gold standard for small animal husbandry. Static caging results in increased temperature and
humidity in the cages. This results in wet bedding materials that can foster growth of micro-organisms. As a
result, increased changing of animal bedding is required to maintain sanitary living conditions. Increased
frequency in cage changing has multiple detrimental effects. First, more bedding is required to house the animals
and generates more bedding waste. Second, multiple cage changes per week increases the water consumption
and dirty wastewater generation as cages require sanitization in hot water cage washers. Third, increased
handling of animals can have negative effects on research studies. Fourth, frequent cage changing increases
the exposures of VMU personnel to both animal dander and infectious agents. The goal of this project is to obtain
funds to upgrade the caging at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) from
static caging to ventilated caging. By moving from static caging to ventilated caging the animals will be in housing
that provides better air flow allowing for better control of temperature and humidity in their cages, improving not
only the living conditions for the small animals but increasing the rigor and reproducibility of the experiments
conducted in the VMU as well as safety of VMU personnel.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10734738
- **Project number:** 1R24OD035435-01
- **Recipient organization:** IDAHO VETERANS RESEARCH / EDUCATION FDN
- **Principal Investigator:** Jay R Radke
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $213,851
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10734738

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10734738, Modernization of Small Animal Caging for infectious disease studies at the Boise VAMC (1R24OD035435-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10734738. Licensed CC0.

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