VRP facilitates intramural research by providing comprehensive, centralized professional and technical support, and consultative services to NIH intramural scientists using animals. VRP can accommodate virtually any animal species required in biomedical research and has capabilities in conventional, SPF, barrier, gnotobiotic, or hazard containment environments. 12 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. 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. 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.