To: Johns Hopkins Investigators Using Vertebrate Animals in Research
From: Christian E. Newcomer, VMD, Assoc. Provost for Animal Research & Resources
Date: September 21, 2007
Re: Johns Hopkins Policy on the Provision of Veterinary Care ________________________________________________________________________
The provision of veterinary clinical care for all vertebrate animal species used in research or teaching at Johns Hopkins University is in the exclusive domain of veterinary staff of Research Animal Resources (RAR). Principal investigators (PIs) may implement very specific treatment regimens that are explicitly described in their JHU Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) protocols because the ACUC protocol review and approval process entails substantial veterinary input. However, PIs should not take the liberty of deviating from these ACUC approved regimens without first consulting with the RAR veterinarians and/or registering the changes with the ACUC in a protocol amendment.
The RAR veterinary staff is comprised of six faculty members four of whom are board certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. In addition, clinical veterinary activities are conducted by six post-doctoral trainees in laboratory animal medicine working under faculty guidance at JHU. Clinical calls for veterinary assistance should be placed to the RAR Office in 459 Ross by phoning 955-3273 during business hours. After 5:00 PM calls should be placed to the on call veterinarian’s beeper at 410-283-0929. The RAR veterinary staff expects all laboratories to provide phone contact numbers for all personnel authorized to make critical decisions for animals requiring emergency care. In the absence of a prompt response to the request for timely input from the laboratory in urgent clinical cases, RAR veterinarians are authorized to use their own discretion in treatment decisions, including a decision to euthanatize the animal.
The veterinary care program at Johns Hopkins University is comprehensive and complies fully with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. In addition to encompassing all aspects of disease prevention, control, diagnosis and therapy, our veterinarians provide surgical support, pathology support and advice on animal model selection, development and characterization. Veterinary participation also extends to many other ancillary areas such as laboratory animal management and enrichment, advising on occupational health and safety matters, supporting the JHU ACUC and collaborating on technique refinements in experimental procedures used in laboratory animals. The RAR veterinary staff looks forward to working with you to provide excellent clinical services and collaborative assistance in research.
