The requirements for aquatic facility design differ greatly from those of a rodent facility. The author discusses factors to consider when planning new construction of an aquatic facility or renovating space to house aquatic species.

Growth in the application of the aquatic animal research model has led to a new market for the design, manufacture, installation, and commissioning of rack-based aquatic research systems. The author highlights fundamental design considerations that must be understood in advance to provide systems that meet the needs of those people procuring, using, and maintaining them.

As the use of fish models in biomedical research increases, so too does the need for individuals working in laboratory animal science to be familiar with surgical procedures in these animals. The author presents a primer on fish surgery with an emphasis on research applications.

As one of humankind's closest animal relatives, the chimpanzee has proven to be a valuable but controversial research model. The author provides an overview of efforts to improve chimpanzee welfare, and describes a facility dedicated to providing lifelong care for these nonhuman primates following retirement from research.

Whether IACUCs should review animal research protocols for scientific merit is not addressed in the federal regulations, resulting in ongoing confusion on the subject. The authors examine this issue, discuss the pros and cons, suggest how IACUCs can go about reviewing protocols for scientific merit, and question what effect recent changes in regulations will have on this issue.

Individually ventilated cage systems have become the method of choice for housing rodents. The author describes the various options for cage ventilation, from using supply and exhaust fans to directly connecting the racks to the building ventilation system.

Genetically engineered mice are making an increasingly valuable contribution to biomedical research, and many institutions have begun to assemble dedicated facilities for the development of transgenic animals. The authors describe the structure, function, and management of the transgenic core at NHGRI.