An artist's impression of the Research Support Facility.
Construction of a new $49.8M facility to support Otago's animal-based research and teaching is set to begin in August.
The Research Support Facility (RSF) will be an excellent facility that meets stringent animal welfare regulations as well as strict health and safety requirements.
It will feature the latest technologies and underpin a wide range of University research addressing important health and biomedical questions.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) Professor Richard Blaikie says the new facility will be state-of-the-art in the Asia Pacific region and will future-proof Otago's status as a leading scientific institution.
“Our researchers will continue to be able to contribute to the large body of knowledge gained from animal-based research, which is a vital component in many major advances in medicine and science.
“The University has a responsibility to offer the highest standard of care for the animals used in research. The RSF will provide an environment to meet that care, complementing the stringent ethical criteria applied by the University to all animal research before it is initiated and including the principles of reduction, replacement and refinement where possible.
“The University employs a team of highly experienced staff who care for animals and the RSF will protect the health of staff through contemporary systems for allergen control.”
The 3936m2, five storey building will be situated on the South Campus and is scheduled to be complete by February 2018.