NIH Fellows Handbook

Veterinary Resources

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The Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR) is a component of the Office of Research Services, within the Office of the Director and is one of the largest biomedical research animal care and use programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

DVR facilitates intramural research by providing comprehensive, centralized professional and technical support, and consultative services to NIH intramural scientists using animals. The broad range of research support activities includes:

  • Animal housing
  • Care and husbandry
  • Veterinary clinical care
  • Procurement
  • Quarantine
  • Transportation
  • Health surveillance and diagnostics, and
  • Surgical intensive care

In addition, DVR professional staff:

  • Provide consultative and collaborative assistance to scientific investigators by identifying appropriate animal models to study human disease;
  • Maintain a resource of well characterized rodent and rabbit strains;
  • Provide animal genetic and embryo cryopreservation resources;
  • Evaluate nutritional needs; and
  • Assess caging and other environmental enrichment requirements.

DVR is responsible for approximately 75% of all animal facility space at the NIH. DVR can accommodate virtually any animal species required in biomedical research and has capabilities in conventional, SPF, barrier, gnotobiotic, or hazard containment environments. All facilities are AAALAC accredited.

Central veterinary support services are funded either through the NIH Management Fund (ICD contributory) or the Service and Supply Fund (fee for service). DVR points-of-contact can discuss specific funding mechanisms appropriate for specific services.

If you would like additional information regarding the services or capabilities of the Division of Veterinary Resources, contact the DVR Office of the Director, 301-496-2527.


Advice On Getting The Most Out Of Your Relationship With Animal-Care Vets

  • Be aware that in the United States, vets are highly trained professionals, with four years of sophisticated graduate training and often a residency in a specialty area.

  • Keep in mind that vets generally have a better understanding of animal anatomy and physiology, particularly of non-rodent species, than do M.D.s or Ph.D.s -- an understanding that may prove helpful in designing experiments or performing surgery.

  • Remember that animal-care vets are required by law to uphold the Animal Welfare Act, which are rules passed by Congress and which cannot be changed by individual vets.

  • Contact vets early in the protocol-development process. Their input on types of animals, procedures, drugs, and staff to use can save time and money further on down the road. Vets should also be able to furnish you with a realistic estimate of what the study should cost.

  • Recognize the ways vets and their strategies can improve your data collection. For example, providing better pain medication, monitoring devices, and even animal companionship can substantially improve post operative survival, thereby providing scientist with more -- and more uniform -- data.

  • Give credit where credit is due. Make vets co-authors of papers if they make substantive original contributions, or mention their contributions in the acknowledgments section.

(Adapted from "Thoughts of a Veteran Vet," The NIH Catalyst, May-June 1996)

 



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