BRF Update October 2021

Dear All,

The end of the year is rapidly coming to a close, and of course everything is happening at once. Please read on for a number of updates, including a key update from the UQBR Director on the closure of ARC:

Update from the UQBR Director

Please see the attached email providing an update on UQBR’s pricing (note this pricing does not apply to at TRI) and a significant first step in regards to ARC’s continued operation.

Mosaic in-person practical training

The BRF have organised for a number of ‘drop-in sessions’ for researchers to come by and ensure they can access computers in the facility and get training/tips on how to record culled/found dead animals and moving animals between cages in Mosaic in the experimental wing. The requirement for all researchers to update records from 6th Dec will apply so please come by and get setup well in advance.

To register your attendance for a session please click here: https://trilearningcentre.talentlms.com/shared/start/key:ZAODNHRK

Depending on demand, more sessions or alternative times can be added into the schedule, just let us know.

Over the coming weeks the BRF will also start contacting individual labs with breeding colonies to organise training and transition to Mosaic for requesting colony management services – please stay tuned.

Increased availability of technical services

I am very pleased to advise that after a long and intensive period of recruitment and training, we now have capacity to take on extra technical services such as injections, oral gavage, sample collections and measurements – so if you are interested in utilising the BRF’s services for any upcoming projects, please contact [email protected] to discuss your requirements further.

Reduced internal transfers next week due to public holiday

As Friday 29th Oct is a public holiday (rescheduled Ekka holiday) there will be internal transfers on Weds 27th Oct only for this week.

Testing of emergency lighting in the BRF

As part of our routine maintenance, remote emergency lighting testing has been scheduled as per below times. This will be carried out with no interruption to services however, you may notice the emergency lights coming on momentarily, thereafter will restore to normal operation. The BRF facility has been scheduled to take place during the day to minimise any disturbances to the animals at night. Emergency lighting tests are scheduled as per below:

  • Level 1 Friday 22/10/21 2pm
  • Level 1 Saturday 23/10/21 2pm
  • Level 1 Sunday 24/10/21 2pm

End of year shutdown dates

13-17th Dec, 4-7th Jan – Reduced availability of technical services

20-22nd Dec – x2 rate applied to technical services, reduced availability

23rd Dec to 3rd Jan – x3 rate applied on top of existing rate to technical services (e.g. weekend booking x2 would be x6), services only available with approval from the BRF manager, depending on staff roster

Animal orders (from ARC) last animal delivery – 10th Dec 21, First animal delivery – 10th Jan 22

Details will be sent through in the next update for the last dates for breeder pair setups, culls, sampling and internal transfers prior to the shutdown.

Fire spinkler flooding

Last week on Weds we had a major incident whereby a fire sprinkler failed in the clean side autoclave room, setting off the alarm and creating significant flooding in this area at 7:30am. I wanted to say a huge thank you to the team members involved in responding immediately to the incident, and who then followed up with a major containment/cleaning effort and repairs – particularly the washup team, building operations, cleaning and senior BRF staff. It is thought that over time, exposure to higher temperatures from the autoclaves opening into this space may have contributed to failure of the fire sprinkler mechanism. All sprinklers in the area have been replaced with new ones with a higher temperature threshold.

As always, if you have any queries, suggestions or concerns at all please do not hesitate to let us know.

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