Animal Models Core

Animal Models Core Project Summary: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence Phase I and II funding for the animal models core (AMC) established a research core with expertise in respiratory and infectious diseases, including state-of-the-art equipment and animal biosafety level 2 (ABSL-2) housing and procedural facilities. With Phase III the AMC will be expanding its services for the ABSL-2 studies with new cutting-edge equipment for phenotyping of animal models of respiratory and infectious disease. In addition, the AMC will be expanding its services to ABSL-3 animal models to better address the urgent needs for BSL3 research at the state level as well as the national level. The central objective of this Phase III proposal is to strengthen the existing BSL2 infrastructure and services and enhance the AMC with ABSL-3 capabilities to adapt to the expanding needs in respiratory and infectious disease research in Oklahoma. The aims of this proposal are: i) Aim 1: Provide a state-of-the-art ABSL-2/3 service to CoBRE pilot projects and other Oklahoma researchers; ii) Aim 2: Provide ABSL-2/3 experimental and regulatory training to CoBRE investigators; iii) Aim 3: Develop a sustainable and independent ABSL-2/3 AMC for use beyond Phase III funding. As a result of Phase III activities, the AMC will increase interdisciplinary interactions between and training of Oklahoma Center for Respiratory Infectious Disease (OCRID) researchers at Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.