Modernization and Expansion of Recirculating Zebrafish Tanks and Monitoring Equipment at UNM Main Campus Castetter Hall Animal Resource Facility

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The aim of this S15 proposal entitled “Modernization and Expansion of Recirculating Zebrafish Tanks and Monitoring Equipment at UNM Main Campus Castetter Hall Animal Resource Facility” at the University of New Mexico Castetter Hall Animal Resource Facility is a request for $180,679 to expand the existing zebrafish facility. Specifically, the following items purchased 1) six recirculating zebrafish single sided standalone racks with tanks/accessories with upgraded pumps and web-based off site monitoring capabilities 2) upgrading existing three recirculating zebrafish single sided standalone racks with upgraded pumps and web-based off site monitoring capabilities 3) three e-racks for flexible and temporary fish holding/housing and 4) an additional chemical dosing systems, water storage tanks, and rack to rack connections for water quality in the new racks. The total space affected by this project is 812 sf including space where equipment is sited at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Castetter Hall (CH) Animal Resource Facility (ARF). This project is located in dedicated and existing zebrafish housing space within the Main Campus, which also houses laboratory mice, deer mice, hamsters, and opossums. This facility was renovated in 2015 for rodent space, 2019 for aquatics, and the cagewasher and autoclave are being upgraded, the installation is slated for completion in September 2024. These renovations were all made with institutional funding. Past renovations upgraded floors, finishes, light timers, a pass-through rack washer, a pass-through cage and equipment autoclave, and renovated mouse housing rooms to accommodate individually ventilated rodent racks in mouse housing areas. This proposal will expand and address aquatic housing recommended under the 8th edition NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, specifically having adequate monitoring such that off-site personnel are able to monitor and respond to any necessary emergency. The current zebrafish facility is currently at capacity and this proposal will enable a 132% expansion of the existing zebrafish facility, which currently houses up to 4000 fish and 150 tanks. These proposed recirculating racks are single sided units with capacity of 75 tanks per rack. This zebrafish research suite currently supports 4 PI laboratories. These rooms are currently near capacity and 1 new faculty with a zebrafish breeding and research program has been hired with numerous faculty recruits discussing this important and emerging animal model.