Health Sciences Research Building Phase II

HSRB-II Opening

Information and latest news on the opening of Emory University's newest, state-of-the-art research facility, Health Sciences Research Building, Phase II.

Official DAR Statement:

HSRBp2 DAR Facility Occupancy with Research Animals: 4/10/2023

Based on the pace and optimism of completion of critical items on the punch list, the DAR expects to be able to house terrestrial research animals in the new facility beginning Monday April 10, 2023.  This does not include the fish facility and excludes the BSL3/ABSL3 suite.

Not all work will be finished, and some punch list items of lower gravity are likely to remain to be attended after the labs move.  Investigators using the facility before completion of the punch list should be cautioned to understand that certain noise and disruption may influence breeding unduly and introduce transient stress into experiments.

"HSRB-II is a trailblazing space designed to incite better collaborations and bigger impacts in biomedical research. Multidisciplinary to its core, it brings together experimental researchers, computationists, and core technologies to solve the biggest human health problems of our time."

Read more about HSRBp2...

HSRB-II Frequently Asked Questions

Updated 08.25.2023

New users must be approved on an IACUC protocol and have completed both DAR didactic facility orientation and then on-site orientation with the facility manager or designee. Step-by-step details on gaining access are provided at the Facility Access tab at the DAR web site.

Kitaw Shiferaw.

Dr. Cristin Roach.

As programmed, the facility was designed to house 4,400 mouse cages, substantial numbers of zebra fish, a smattering of other species at small scale, and ABSL3 animal models. Accommodating a plethora of emergent needs has winnowed the mouse capacity down to 2,800 cages. There are now three rooms for rat housing. The accommodation of other species will be managed on a case-by-case basis and should be presented to the facility manager and Dr. Huerkamp. The July 2023 census showed 1,028 mouse cages – 37% capacity. Current projections are for the mouse census to exceed 75% of capacity by late 2024. Mouse housing is most efficient at 75-85% of full capacity.

Yes. Most significantly the source of lighting will be warm LED and not cool white fluorescent lighting that has been the standard in other DAR facilities.

Yes. The DAR will provide one or more core surgeries available for use by qualified surgeons by reservation

Yes. Dr. Santangelo will have an IVIS in the facility and has agreed to share it

No. The closest x-ray irradiator is in the DAR Peds/ECC facility room G16B

The facility was not designed for ABSL2 studies, but also with flexibility. As DAR continues to assess the scale and tempo of research requiring ABSL2 models, these are the possibilities to support ABSL2 studies for HSRB II-based laboratories today and in the interim:

  • ABSL2 guinea pigs in WBRB G39G (i.e., not in HSRB II)
  • ABSL2 mice temporarily in V116 HSRB II, but likely to be displaced as the mouse census
    expands in the facility.
  • ABSL2 hamsters in Pediatrics G31 suite (i.e., not in HSRB II)
  • ABSL2 rats: To be determined

The ABSL3/BSL3 suite will not be operational until approved by EHSO and BSL3 director Dr. Rafael Medina.

It is highly unlikely that an individual investigator or laboratory will be provided an exclusive procedure room for equipment, animal surgery, behavioral or other research-specific needs. The facility was designed to support 44 laboratories with 15 procedure rooms built and the expectation that 2-3 labs with like needs would share spaces. It is rare for individual investigators to be provided exclusive-use space and requires an application to be reviewed by the Dean’s Office. Details can be provided by Dr. Huerkamp (mhuerka@emory.edu). In general, a successful case would use > 20 linear feet of countertop work space, support a substantial grant portfolio, and operate 5 days a week for greater than 4-6 hours per day.

A safe can be reserved by contacting Dr. Huerkamp (mhuerka@emory.edu) who will confirm the request with an "Intent to Issue a Safe" email. The safe of interest then will be identified as "Reserved". Issuance of a safe must be tied to federal and state regulatory licenses. The PI must arrange DEA and Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (GDNA) inspections of the location and use of the safe and obtain respective DEA and Georgia Board of Pharmacy (GBP) authorizing documentation. These approvals must be provided for DAR review. Once these conditions have been satisfied, an MOU will be generated by DAR addressing responsibilities of the user/occupant of the safe and access to the appropriate safe will be provided. There likely will be a nominal fee charged to recover the costs of management of the safe and there may be an annual renewal charge.