Optical Imaging Core Facility (OICF) Phase 3 Operations Guide

Dear OICF User:

Per the University of Chicago’s Resumption of Research Phase 3 Protocol, the ARC/OSRF (Animal Resource Center / Office of Shared Research Facilities) has mandated significant modification of the manner in which you are permitted to resume your imaging studies within the iSAIRR’s Optical Imaging Core Facility (OICF). This document provides guidance as to how you can resume your imaging studies under the University’s Phase 2 operation and is being provided to you as you are listed as an OICF User of Record. If you know of others who might be interested in using the OICF in the near future, please feel free to forward this information to them. And please feel free to contact the Technical Director (sourisj@uchicago.edu) should you have any additional questions or concerns not covered in this document.

PI Research Resumption Plan (RRP)

To use the OICF during Phase 3, a user’s PI must have a University-approved Research Resumption Plan (RRP) that specifically lists the iSAIRR as one of the Core Facilities to be used. If the PI’s RRP does not list the iSAIRR, the RRP will need to be amended by the PI accordingly and re-approved before imaging sessions can be scheduled. Without a University-approved Research Resumption Plan (RRP) that specifically lists the iSAIRR, the ARC will not grant card-swipe access to the iSAIRR for any member of the PI’s lab.

Hours of Operation

Unchanged from normal operations, the OICF is open 7 days a week, from 7:00am-11:59pm, to all trained and approved individuals subject to the Phase 3 constraints listed in this document.

Instrument Scheduling

OICF users should now schedule on-line their IVIS imaging sessions no closer than 30 min to the start or finish time of any existing user’s scheduled reservation – to ensure users do not overrun their timeslot and simultaneously permit several room-air exchanges to take place. If a user is imaging live animals, the user must also use the same on-line scheduler to reserve either the Mouse Return Room or the Quarantine BSL2 Rodent Room for 30 mins at the beginning and 30 mins at the completion of their IVIS imaging session, to enable timely retrieval and return of their animals. This new constraint is due to the rodent rooms being limited to single-person occupancy, and thus potentially being occupied by another iSAIRR user (e.g., one conducting PET/SPECT/CT/US imaging or animal procedures). No charges are associated with booking the 2 rodent rooms.

iSAIRR Rodent Housing

All animals involved in Optical Imaging must be housed in either the iSAIRR’s Mouse Return Room or the iSAIRR’s Quarantine BSL2 Rodent Room, depending upon their ABSL status. Live animals may not be transported into or out of the iSAIRR by anyone other than the ARC via use of the ARC’s Animal Transport Service (request form available on AIMS). Users should, whenever possible, transfer ALL animals to be imaged from the iSAIRR’s rodent rooms to the Optical Imaging Core at the commencement of their IVIS imaging session, to minimize door use and hall traffic, as well as the need for repeated door handle disinfection. Specific instructions on the use of rodent rooms are posted on their doors.

Occupancy Limits and Social Distancing

Under Phase 3 operations, the Optical Imaging Core Facility occupancy is limited to 3 persons from the same research group at a time – although, due to the availability of only a single door and sink, we STRONGLY recommend 2 people at a time. If 2 or 3 people are needed for an imaging session, each person must wear their own Face Shield (PI-provided) in addition to their mask.

Optical Imaging Core (TE-071) Entry/Exit Procedures

• Users must be masked BEFORE entering the iSAIRR’s main entrance.
• Upon entry, the users will proceed down the hallway approximately 5 meters (see drawing above) to the sink, and thoroughly wash and dry their hands.
• Users will then return towards the iSAIRR’s entrance and gown near the lockers, where all PPE (disposable gowns, gloves, and hair bonnets) are provided.
• Users will keep their own masks on – not changing them – inside the facility at all times, even when alone or not working with animals. Only those working with BSL2 animals will be required to wear a disposable mask.
• Once all PPE is donned, users will visually verify that the lab is empty by viewing through the door’s window.
• Users will disinfect the outer door knob prior to entering using the spray and wipes provided nearby.
• Once inside, users will use spray Clidox/wipes to disinfect (a) light switch and sink handles, (b) workstation keyboard membrane cover, (c) computer mouse, (d) handles of all readily used hard surfaces (interior door knob, IVIS Imaging System door, Anesthesia System and Induction chamber, (e) O₂ cylinder control value, (f) chair seats and armrests to be used, and (f) bench-tops. These disinfection instructions are also posted on the door, as well as on the walls within the Optical Imaging Core.
• Once the imaging session is completed, these same surfaces must be disinfected by the user – in addition to those routinely cleaned. Signage describing these cleaning tasks are posted on the walls and door within.
• After ungarbing near the lockers at the iSAIRR’s entrance, users should wash and dry their hands in the hallway sink as they did before garbing at the beginning of the imaging session.

Experiments or Procedures Requiring More Than One Person

Due to the Optical Core Facility’s single door, single sink, and limited floor space, users are strongly encouraged to work alone. If, however, one additional person is needed for the imaging session, the following guidance will help ensure user safety and work efficiency.

1. Work individually and alone as much as possible to avoid contact with others. If a technique (e.g., tissue harvest of one animal while imaging another) cannot be performed individually, the following steps must be taken to avoid direct contact and maintain social distancing:
   1. No more than two people should work together at a time. Face Shields for each user, supplied by user’s PI, are required to be worn over masks at all times.
   2. Be prepared!! Assign one person to label tubes, gather supplies, etc. beforehand so nothing needs to be rushed, to avoid overlap, and to maintain social distancing
   3. Assign experimental set-up and take-down tasks beforehand to prevent any direct contact and maintain social distancing before, during, and after the experimental procedure
   4. Social distancing must be maintained throughout the procedure (at least 6 feet apart).
   5. Work must be performed at bays that enable users to remain six feet or greater apart from one another (see yellow floor taping for Designated Research Areas).

2. If equipment, tissues, or tools need to be passed between people, identify a shared space between the two benches where items, i.e., mouse tissues, can be left, i.e., on a glass plate, and then retrieved by the other person without coming within 6 feet of one another.
3. Split duties to be performed to identify a minimal amount of possible interaction with one another, i.e., splitting up tissues appropriately to minimize overlap, back and forth, or possible contact
4. Clean all shared equipment or tools with 70% EtOH before passing to other person.
5. Try to work as quickly and as carefully as possible.

New User Training

During Phase 3, new user individual training will be limited and contingent upon the existence of previously approved ACUPs, Imaging Form Amendments, PI RRPs specifying iSAIRR use, and the availability of ARC-mandated Orientation Tours of the facility and its rodent rooms. Instrument use training, currently in beta-testing, will largely be conducted via online tools that include on-demand webinars, one-on-one Zoom sessions using previously acquired datasets pertinent to user interests, and by phone. Any abbreviated staff training of users that is needed will be conducted with the Staff Member seated at the designated IVIS Spectrum DRA and the user seated >6’ away at the table on the opposite side of the IVIS Spectrum, via a monitor that mirrors in real-time the IVIS Spectrum Control PC’s monitor – with each person wearing their own face shield in addition to customary PPE. Potential new users should contact the OICF’s Technical Director, Dr. Jeffrey Souris (sourisj@uchicago.edu), for further guidance.