# Space Optimization, Allergen Mitigation, and Improved Microenvironmental Conditions in a Shared Use Animal Facility at Florida State University

> **NIH NIH R24** · FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $349,316

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This proposal requests funds to acquire Tecniplast Emerald EM500 individually ventilated
caging (IVC) systems to modernize and incorporate the latest IVC technology into a shared use
vivarium at Florida State University (FSU). The FSU Animal Care and Use Program is poised to
experience unprecedented growth as a result of the University President’s bold and ambitious
agenda to increase annual research funding from $328M to $500M by building capacity in life
sciences, medical research, and health data sciences and by hiring approximately 170 new, full-
time, tenure-track faculty. The open-top and microisolator caging used program-wide cannot
support the anticipated growth within existing facilities. Moreover, the expansion of the FSU
research enterprise will undoubtedly translate into an increase in work with
immunocompromised rodents and hazardous agents, which due to the lack of appropriate
engineering controls, the University is presently ill-equipped to handle. Additionally, recent
consultancy studies commissioned by the FSU Office of the Vice President for Research
(OVPR) have identified occupational health concerns, specifically personnel exposure to
laboratory animal allergens associated with the widespread use of open-top caging. The goal of
this project is to acquire six single-sided mouse racks, three double-sided mouse racks, and one
single-sided rat rack for the Biomedical Research Facility (BRF) vivarium, which, in combination,
will provide 1,092 cage spaces for rodents and increase the mouse cage holding capacity of the
vivarium by 162%. In addition to space optimization, the IVC technology requested is expected
to mitigate occupational allergen exposure risks, provide appropriate engineering controls for
work with immunocompromised rodents and hazardous agents, and improve
microenvironmental conditions for FSU animal resources. The operational innovation and
benefits to personnel health and safety and animal welfare achieved by the success of this
proposal will uniquely position FSU and LAR to meet the demands of a burgeoning research
enterprise and the needs of current and future NIH-funded investigators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10735627
- **Project number:** 1R24OD035449-01
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William Allen Hill
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $349,316
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10735627

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10735627, Space Optimization, Allergen Mitigation, and Improved Microenvironmental Conditions in a Shared Use Animal Facility at Florida State University (1R24OD035449-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10735627. Licensed CC0.

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