NIH Modern Equipment for Shared-use Biomedical Research Facilities: Advancing Research-Related Operations 2022

Animal research facilities are one of the targeted research spaces of this FOA. Examples of supported equipment include ventilated cages for rodents, aquatic animal systems equipped with water quality assessment tools, and automated feeding systems to aid in consistency and accuracy of animal care. Telemetry equipment to monitor animal well-being is another relevant example. Also, environmental management devices that can assist in the monitoring and customizing of environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, air flow, and lighting are appropriate for this FOA. Overall, an animal facility furnished with modern equipment and assisted by IT management tools can help to ensure robust and reproducible experiments, an area of particular concern in animal research.

Core laboratories and specialized facilities are other spaces targeted by this FOA. Without access to modern research facilities with well-controlled environments and furnished with specialized support equipment, many research functions are not feasible. Modern biobanking and cryopreservation systems, assisted with robotic arms and other high-throughput tools, are examples of such equipment. Equipment that, when connected to building systems, modernizes, streamlines, or improves the operating efficiency of the facility are also supported. This includes specialized autoclaves/sterilizers, glass washers, fume hoods, and biosafety cabinets. Also, isolators, bioreactors, anoxic and other environmental chambers are appropriate for this FOA. Computers or other electronics with specialized software can also be a part of the equipment request if they are required for operating or monitoring the performance of the equipment. Tools for collecting and managing environmental data are supported.

The PD/PI does not need to have an NIH research grant or any other research support. The PD/PI may be a core or an animal research facility director, tenured, or non-tenured faculty member of the applicant organization. The PD/PI must be affiliated with the applicant organization and must be registered on eRA Commons. Typically, the PD/PI will be a scientist with a leadership role in overseeing or managing the shared-use facility and relevant scientific or technical expertise (documented in the biographical sketch) related to the requested technology.

Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed under this FOA