Renovation and Construction for New Translational Research Animal Facility

University Of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr, Oklahoma City OK

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) is seeking funds to establish a new Translational Research Animal Facility (TRAF). The research enterprise at OUHSC has grown over 15% in the last 5 years. The TRAF will serve a critical resource support role to continue translational research growth for established NIH-funded investigators and for junior faculty supported by NIGMS- funded Institutional Development Awards (IDeA). The TRAF will provide modern animal housing space, research space, and non-invasive imaging capability supporting the OUHSC?s Research Strategic Plan?s four key thematic areas of research: cancer, diabetes, geroscience, and infectious diseases. The overarching goal is advancement of translational research at OUHSC by: 1) Repurposing a purpose-built facility into new research resources and animal housing facility; 2) Consolidation of infrastructure support for covered-species into a single location; 3) Providing space for a new 4.7 Tesla research MRI for imaging small and larger animals and consolidation of other imaging modalities into a single site; and 4) Promoting translational research throughout the OUHSC for NIH-funded investigators, while focusing on partnerships with IDeA-funded grants by providing junior researchers the opportunity and expertise to utilize appropriate translational animal models in their research.