UB Microbiome Center Gnotobiotic Animal Research Facility

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The University at Buffalo (UB) requests funds for critical research renovations and infrastructure upgrades in the Biomedical Education Building for the construction of a new Gnotobiotic Animal Research. Nearly 700 kinds of microorganisms exist in the human oral cavity, making it one of the most complex microbial communities in the

human body. The effects of the oral microbiome on human health and pathology has become increasingly clear over the past two decades, signaling a revolution in perspective regarding how the oral microbiome impacts human health and disease. The oral microbiome has been associated with diverse disease, including systemic

disease phenotypes from inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer to osteoporosis and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Due to the complexity of the microbiome and the influence of the microbiota on the host and the host’s effect on the microbial communities, gnotobiotic animal models offer a carefully controlled arena to

interrogate microbiome-specific hypotheses. Using these models, human microbiomes from various disease states can recapitulate and interface disease states in conventionalized germ-free animal hosts. Using this approach, we can move from epidemiological association studies in humans into true experimental science

where hypotheses can be generated, tested, and validated producing transformative scientific discoveries. Currently, the Western New York region lacks a centralized gnotobiotic facility to enable this type of research and the closest other facilities in New York are located in New York City, almost 400 miles away. This proposal

will convert ~4,000 net sq. ft. of former primate animal research space into a new Gnotobiotic Animal Research Facility. This facility will be an integral component of the growing UB Microbiome Center that will be accessible to all research teams from UB, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and other regional universities. This

project will benefit numerous NIH-supported laboratory research programs, including 12 active NIH research grants totaling approximately $4.6M in annual direct costs, with direct access to germ-free mice and gnotobiotic

facilities in order to advance their scientific discoveries. The goals of this application are to: 1) create a state-of- the-art gnotobiotic animal research facility and physical home for the UB Microbiome Center Gnotobiotic Animal Research Facility; 2) offer training for the next generation of scientists in the use gnotobiotic animals to allow

them to take the technologies and experiences into their next career phase; and 3) ensure a safe and appropriate environment to support NIH-funded investigators and research programs focused on microbiome research on all three UB campuses, at nearby Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and other regional/national

universities. Planning was developed in consultation with architectural and engineering firms with extensive experience in biomedical laboratory design and green design principles. The Project Management Team includes the Senior Associate Dean for Research (PI), Director of Veterinary and Laboratory Animal Services

(Facilities Manager), and Assistant Director, Facilities Design & Construction (Project Manager).