The Digitalization of the Vivarium: Past and Present Initiatives that Optimize Animal Care and Welfare

Digital technology is improving the speed and accuracy of all the world’s work processes and activities, the including the research vivarium.   This presentation will address some of ways that modernization of animal studies has been occurring, from room monitoring and control systems, to racks and individual cages and, to the use of holding cages as part of the actual study segment.  Using advantages of these  of these technologies in this manner enables researchers to automatically gather and interpret data while allowing facility managers to improve operating efficiency and utilization of resources.   The use of this type of data can be very helpful in resolving concerns about study reproducibility with the goal of improved research outcomes.   We will discuss the value of the technology-enabled animal facilities to the administration, management and investigators.