Research Support Provided By Your Institute's Animal Program Director

Many aspects of your research endeavors are managed and supported by your Institute staff rather than by the animal facility staff. Each Institute has an Animal Program Director (i.e., Institute Veterinarian):

Your Animal Program Director can provide consultation and valuable assistance to you in the following areas:

• Investigator obligations prior to beginning projects using research animals.
• Availability and location of animal holding and procedure space.
• Animal handling and technical procedures.
• Appropriate animal model selection and humane utilization of animals.
• Selection and use of anesthetic, analgesic, and tranquilizing drugs.
• Surgical procedures and preoperative and postoperative care.
• Assistance with preparation of NIH Animal Study Proposal (ASP) form for submission to your Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
• Importation/exportation of research animals.
• Special animal holding or caging requirements.
• Clinical care of your research animals.