NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Improving animal housing conditions at UIC

Official title: UIC Animal Facility Environmental Monitoring System

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10987664 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is working to make the living spaces for about 40,000 animals at the University of Illinois Chicago better by using a new system that keeps an eye on temperature, humidity, and light, so the animals stay comfortable and healthy while helping researchers with their work.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startAugust 15, 2024
Project endAugust 14, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$350,000
NIH project number1R24OD037713-01
Project IDNIH-10987664 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are institutions and researchers involved in animal care and experimentation who require enhanced monitoring of animal housing environments.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not work with or rely on animal research facilities will not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This project aims to enhance the animal housing facilities at the University of Illinois Chicago by implementing an advanced environmental monitoring system. The system will continuously track temperature, humidity, and light levels in the animal facilities, ensuring optimal living conditions for the animals. By providing real-time alerts to staff when conditions deviate from acceptable ranges, the project seeks to improve the welfare of approximately 40,000 animals housed in these facilities. This initiative supports the research efforts of around 300 investigators and aims to modernize the university's animal care program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the living conditions and welfare of animals used in research, leading to more reliable and humane scientific outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches in environmental monitoring have shown success in improving animal welfare in research settings, indicating a promising outcome for this initiative.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Fortman, Jeffrey D — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Fortman, Jeffrey D

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.