Animal Facilities and Biosafety - Category "A": Acquisition of Ventilated Racks and Accessories for the Animal Facilities of ICB-USP: Advancing Sanitary Standards and Animal Welfare

• Grant number: 25/06313-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Improvement of the Operational Infrastructure of Small-Animal Facilities and Biosafety
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
• Grantee: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Ana Carolina Takakura Moreira ; Ana Paula Lepique ; Anselmo Sigari Moriscot ; Camila Squarzoni Dale ; Cesar Seigi Fuziwara ; Cláudio Romero Farias Marinho ; Cristoforo Scavone ; Daniel Youssef Bargieri ; Davi José de Almeida Moraes ; Elen Haruka Miyabara ; Elisa Mitiko Kawamoto Iwashe ; Jose Donato Junior ; Karina Thieme ; Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira ; Luiz Henrique Marchesi Bozi ; Maria Luiza de Morais Barreto de Chaves ; Marilene Hohmuth Lopes ; Marucia Chacur ; Mauro Javier Cortez Véliz ; Newton Sabino Canteras ; Patricia Chakur Brum ; Renata Frazão ; Roberto De Pasquale ; Silvia Beatriz Boscardin ; Stephen Fernandes de Paula Rodrigues ; Thiago dos Santos Moreira

Abstract

The Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo (ICB-USP) is a national and international reference in research and education, with recognized excellence in strategic areas such as cancer, infectious diseases, neurobiology, and drug development. This scientific leadership is supported by a solid infrastructure, particularly in the use of animal models, which are essential for biomedical research. Within this context, the Central Animal Facility (CEBIOT) plays a strategic role as a multi-user infrastructure, comprising nine units registered with CIUCA and distributed across the institute's departments. CEBIOT is responsible for the breeding, maintenance, and experimentation with rodents, serving approximately 450 users from USP and other research institutions. Its relevance is evidenced by the approval of over 124 research projects by the local Animal Ethics Committee (CEUA) and the publication of nearly 410 scientific articles in 2023 involving animal models. These studies demand strict sanitary and genetic control, which is crucial to ensure the quality, reproducibility, and reliability of the data produced. Over the past two decades, CEBIOT's facilities have been established with significant support from USP, FAPESP, CNPq, and FINEP, always in compliance with CONCEA regulations. Initially focused on ensuring basic sanitary conditions, the facilities now face the challenge of adapting to the current demands of cutting-edge biomedical research, which requires technologically advanced environments, enhanced biosafety, and strict control of environmental variables. This project proposes the expansion and modernization of CEBIOT's infrastructure, aiming to raise the sanitary standards of the rodent facilities. To achieve this, the plan includes the acquisition of state-of-the-art housing and handling systems-such as ventilated racks and cage-changing stations-that ensure individual cage isolation, reduce the risk of cross-contamination, and provide tightly controlled environmental conditions. These systems are essential for studies involving transgenic and immunocompromised animal models. Strengthening CEBIOT's infrastructure will have a direct impact on the quality and efficiency of the research conducted at ICB, reinforcing its position as a center of excellence in biomedical science. The modernization of CEBIOT's facilities will expand its capacity as a high-performance multi-user platform, serving dozens of research groups from USP and external institutions more efficiently, including strategic projects funded by FAPESP. This initiative will contribute to the advancement of national science, strengthening the competitiveness and international visibility of Brazilian research. (AU)