Seven major directives for animal research and biocontainment facilities are currently driving a new wave of space and system upgrades, facility expansions, and equipment and technology investments:

• Fix dangerously outdated space for compliance, safe operations, and research quality 

• Introduce digital technologies for cage and room monitoring and data collection

• Increase flexibility and adaptability to accommodate new programs

• Improve space utilization to increase research capacity with existing assets

• Implement high-efficiency integrated building control systems

• Upgrade mechanical systems for reliability, maintainability, and cost reduction

• Expand and strategically locate more procedure space

At this conference, you’ll hear from industry leaders on the technologies, project details, metrics, costs, and outcomes for new and successful initiatives involving:

• New space metrics and benchmarks

• Low cost flexibility features and equipment

• Equipment, components, and systems for regulatory and certification compliance

• Digitization of cages, racks, equipment, and space 

• Software, systems, and sensors for data collection and monitoring

• Isolation strategies for germ-free/gnotobiotic/SPF rodents

• Translational genomics cores for high-demand CRISPR applications

• ROI decision-making for capital improvement expenditures

• Mitigation measures for noise, vibration, and animal stress in construction environments

• Renovation strategies that yield continued operations during construction

• More efficient capital project planning and management processes

• New cost-effective automation options to reduce labor/injuries

• Improved environmental control for vibration, acoustics, temperature, humidity

• High priority features and technology for researcher recruitment

• Lean/efficient process work flows and logistics

• More efficient caging, IVC, and rack solutions

• Wall and flooring materials

• Specialized lab types (aquatics, reptiles, arthropods, etc.)

• Equipment and policies for reduced air changes

• Improved decontamination, sterilization, and waste handling processes and technology

• Reduced operations cost

• Commissioning processes