Transcript Developing a *sexy* infrastructure grant

Developing a “sexy”
infrastructure grant
Joyce Cohen, VMD, DACLAM
Yerkes National Primate
Research Center
Yerkes National Primate Research Center
Main Station and Field Station
Species
Rhesus macaques
Cynomolgus macaques
Pigtail macaques
Squirrel monkeys
Sooty Mangabeys
Chimpanzees
Mice
Rats
Voles
AIDS
Immune System Function
Vaccines
Transplantation Medicine
Malaria
Tuberculosis
Parkinson’s Disease
Huntington’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurological Basis of Behavior
Obesity
Autism
Cognitive Development
Social & Emotional Development
Genetics
Reproduction
Cocaine / Drug Addiction
Cardiovascular Disease
Cognitive & Social Changes in
Aging
Other Infectious Diseases
Yerkes History of Infrastructure Grants
Project
Grant
Year
Amount
Funded
Automated Feeders & Welfare
G20
2014
500,000
Yes
Innovative Research Housing
C06
2013
1,000,000
Yes
Automated Feeders
G20
2013
500,000
No
Housing Renovations RD
G20
2012
500,000
No
HIV Housing Expansion
C06
2011
1,500,000
No
DFF
C06
(ARRA)
2011
14,868,223
Yes
Pathology Lab
G20
2009
500,000
Yes
Fundability Factors

Basic design of project

Documented need

Innovative feature, function or design

Forward thinking

Well written
Supporting Information

Provide data to support the information
 Detail Institutional grant information
 Provide numbers to support claims
 Number
of grants ($)
 Animal census
 Pending assignment requests
Build a story around the data
 Include benefits for external institutions
 Additional institutional support always a bonus
 Detail the amount of institutional support

Reviewer Instructions

Review the FOA details

Understand how the reviewers are
instructed to score the grant

Write the grant to address the review
categories

Confront the questions that reviewers
may have and provide the answers
C06: Innovative AIDS Research Housing for
Nonhuman Primates


Overall Impact/Priority Score of 27
Design:
 Seven monkey suites and14 adjacent runs
 Housing

up to 16 animals each for a total of 112 animals
 Two treatment/procedure rooms for AIDS vaccine studies
Supporting data
 Growing HIV/AIDS Research Program (over 32 million in 2012)
 Animal numbers for pending requests and future grant
needs
C06: Innovative AIDS Research Housing
C06: Innovative AIDS Research Housing
C06: Innovative AIDS Research Housing
C06- Critiques

Strengths

This application presented clear justification for the requested funds and provided very
clear illustrations and description of the facility design and use.

The AIDS research conducted at the Yerkes is well described and is noteworthy; the
evidence is in the amount of support received in the past year (over $32 million in
2012).

The proposed design is very innovative. The combination of traditional housing and
runs coordinated with the research protocol will enhance the welfare of the animals.

Repurposing of existing Chimpanzee holding spaces that are no longer needed is a
great innovative use of resources and offers a unique opportunity to improve
enrichment and well-being of the animals proposed to be housed in these spaces.

Sustainable designs are well described. Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certification is alluded to.
C06- Critiques

Weaknesses

While some of the collaborators are called out by name, the collaboration
is mostly addressed in general terms.

The layout of the treatment/procedure room and laundry are of concern.
Accesses to the treatment/procedure rooms are awkward. Entry into each
space requires passage through another space, thus only one of the
treatment rooms can be used at a time.

A description of vector/vermin control and animal intrusion issues should
have been discussed with respect to the run areas.
Construction…

Challenges in responding to NIH questions

NIH Review team changed

New issues to address
 Generator
 Redundancy
in HVAC

Increased expenses $$$$$$$$$$$

Delayed start time
G20
Implementing
automated feeders
to improve welfare
and care of
nonhuman primates
G20: Automated Feeders


This innovative technology could revolutionize
current husbandry practices and become the
“standard of care” for maintaining large social
colonies of nonhuman primates

Enhance Veterinary Care

Predict Social Instability

Animal Census

Manage Obesity

Reduce Food Waster

Enhance Research Opportunities
Impact score : 16
Animal
Welfare
Reports
Utilization of feeding reports in health surveillance
G20: Critiques
Strengths

A letter from the Director of the Tulane NPRC endorses the project by saying that it
may lead to a paradigm shift in the field of NHP care and welfare.

The PI has included a table describing situations whereby in using the automated
feeders injured animals were detected earlier, as was a postpartum female with a
retained placenta. Treatments could be instituted earlier leading to a better
prognosis for recovery.

The program is Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal
Care (AAALAC) accredited; institutional support is evidenced by the growth of
sponsored research funding and the construction of three new buildings in recent
years.
G20: Critiques
Weaknesses

There is currently one sole vendor (Research Diets, Inc.), and the initial
investment to implement the system at other institutions may be substantial.

The need for the project is based mostly on value added and not need.
2013: A Paradigm Shift in Management of Primate Breeding Colonies

The costs of the system are rather high, over $100,000 per group of animals. This could be a high hurdle
for many institutions as the overt savings do not reach a level that would amortize the first cost. It is
possible, however, with further commercial development, the system cost will come down significantly.

Benefit of this technology seems somewhat speculative at this time.

Benefit of improved pest control is not compelling

There is no detail on the microchip that must be implanted to enable the system. Since chip
implantation is integral to the design, details on implantation should have been provided.
Acknowledgements


C06

Francois Villenger

Stuart Zola

Vicki West
G20

Mark Wilson

Zach Johnson

Kelly Ethun
Questions