Worksheet to Assist in Addressing the Required Points 3 and 4 of the
Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) for NIH Applications and Proposals
Members of NIH scientific review groups are instructed to evaluate the 5 point VAS to
determine if it is complete and if plans for the use of vertebrate animals are appropriate
relative to the scientific work proposed. Points 1, 2, and 5 are relatively straightforward
and the detail expected has not changed significantly (describe the animals and their
proposed use; provide justifications for the use of animals, choice of species, and number
of animals to be used; and describe methods of euthanasia). However, more detail may
now be requested for Points 3 and 4. A detailed worksheet on the VAS has been
developed by the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and is available at
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/VASchecklist.pdf .
To assist University of Minnesota investigators who house animals in Research Animal
Resources with the writing of those sections, the following verbiage and advice are
offered. If you have additional questions about completing the VAS, please contact the
RAR Director, Cynthia Gillett, at gille002@umn.edu.
Point 3 - Provide a general description of veterinary care, including veterinary support
that is specifically relevant to the proposed procedures.
Suggested Response:
The University of Minnesota has an approved Animal Welfare Assurance, #
A3456-01, on file with the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and complies
with the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations, the Public Health Service Policy
on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the recommendations in the
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Academic Health Center,
College of Liberal Arts, and Hormel Institute are accredited by the Association for
the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International.
[Note: if your animals are not maintained within one of the specified administrative
units, then delete the reference to AAALAC accreditation.]
Indicate the following:
- A brief account of veterinary staff and their availability
Suggested Response:
Research Animal Resources (RAR) employs a full time team of laboratory animal
veterinarians, one of whom is on call at all times, 24/7. Several veterinarians are
board-certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and all are
experienced in laboratory animal science and medicine.
- The regular schedule of monitoring of animals by veterinary staff
Suggested Response:
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Animal health monitoring is performed on a daily basis by animal care staff, at
least twice weekly by veterinary technicians and at least once weekly by a
veterinarian. Animals with known health problems are monitored more intensively.
The veterinary staff makes regular rounds through the housing facilities to observe
the health and welfare of animals, the housing conditions and husbandry
procedures.
- Any additional monitoring and veterinary support that may be required to ensure
humane care, if relevant to the procedures proposed (e.g., post-surgical)
Suggested Response:
[Insert specific animal health monitoring and veterinary care needs for your
project.]
[Note: If a completed Animal Care and Use Protocol (ACUP) for the grant activities
is available, repeat here the responses in ACUP Item 5.A and, if survival surgery is
being conducted, the response in Appendix F regarding post-operative care.
If the animal activity was submitted via eProtocol, repeat here the response to Item
a. in the Health and Monitoring section and, if survival surgery is being conducted,
the response in the surgery procedure section regarding post-operative care.]
- Indicators for veterinary intervention to alleviate discomfort, distress or pain, if relevant
Suggested Response:
Any time an animal is observed in discomfort or with a health problem there is an
immediate response involving RAR and the research staff. Research staff may
call the veterinary services office or the on-call veterinary pager to report an
animal health concern. If the problem is initially noted by RAR, the investigator or
research staff is contacted to discuss the situation. If an observed health problem
is expected as part of the experimental procedure, the nature of the problem will
have been described in the IACUC approved protocol. If a health problem occurs
that is unexpected, the veterinarian will assist in developing a diagnosis and
prognosis and discuss treatment options with the investigator. Unless scientifically
justified otherwise, all animal health problems must be either treated or monitored
until the animal meets protocol specific euthanasia criteria.
Point 4 - Describe procedures to minimize discomfort, distress, pain and injury. Indicate
the following:
- Circumstances relevant to the proposed work, when animals may experience
discomfort, distress, pain or injury
Suggested Response:
August 2013
[Note: If a completed Animal Care and Use Protocol (ACUP) for the grant activities
is available, repeat here the response to the first question in ACUP Item 5. If the
animal activity was submitted via eProtocol, repeat here the response to Item a. in
the Health and Monitoring section.]
- Procedures to alleviate discomfort, distress, pain or injury
Suggested generic response that needs to be customized to your grant proposal:
Many anesthetics, analgesics, sedatives, NSAIDs and other pharmacological
means to alleviate pain and discomfort on research animals are available upon
consultation with the RAR veterinary staff. The RAR formulary is available online
at www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/umnuser/formulary.html. Non-pharmacologic means may
include animal acclimation handling, comfort items (bedding, padding, thermal
pads), social/group housing, and positive reinforcement.
[Note: If a completed Animal Care and Use Protocol (ACUP) for the grant activities
is available, repeat here the response to ACUP Item 5.B. If the animal activity was
submitted via eProtocol, repeat here the response to Item b. in the Health and
Monitoring section.]
- Identify (by name or class) any tranquilizers, analgesics, anesthetics and other
treatments (e.g., antibiotics) and describe their use
Suggested Response:
RAR and investigative staff use a wide variety of anesthetics, analgesics,
analeptics, sedatives, NSAIDs and other pharmacological means to alleviate pain
and discomfort on research animals. Our formulary is available online at
www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/umnuser/formulary.html. Non-pharmacologic means may
include, but are not limited to, acclimation, comfort items (bedding, padding,
thermal), social (group housing) and education (gentle tissue handling, positive
reinforcement, etc.).
- Provisions for special care or housing that may be necessary after experimental
procedures [This answer is specific to your grant proposal and so there is no suggested
response.]
- Plans for post-surgical care, if survival surgeries are proposed
Suggested Response:
[If the RAR Post-Operative Care Program for larger animals on the Mpls campus
will be utilized, use this statement:]
Care is provided by the RAR Post-Operative Care Program which is staffed by
veterinary technicians, under direct supervision of a veterinarian. The post-op staff
August 2013
will work closely with research staff to determine if a study has unique
requirements in terms of post-operative care procedures, drugs, feeding, fluids,
etc. Otherwise, treatment is based on accepted veterinary guidelines.
[If post-surgical care is provided by the research staff for animals housed in St.
Paul, for rodents and other smaller animals, include the response in Appendix F
regarding post-operative care. If the animal activity was submitted via eProtocol,
repeat here the response in the surgery procedure section regarding postoperative care.]
- Indicators for humane experimental endpoints, if relevant. Describe any method of
euthanasia to be used and the reasons for its selection and to state whether the method
proposed is consistent with the 2013 AVMA Guidelines. If the proposed method is not
consistent with the AVMA Guidelines, a scientific justification must be included in the
VAS.
Suggested Response:
All of the personnel working on this study will read and apply the IACUC
Guidelines for early euthanasia:
http://www.research.umn.edu/iacuc/download/euthanasiaguidelines.cfm
[Note: List all proposed euthanasia criteria and methodology here. If a completed
ACUP for the grant activities is available, repeat relevant information provided in
item 6A, 6D and 6E. If the animal activity was submitted via eProtocol, repeat
here the responses in the Euthanasia sections, items 1, 3, and 4.]
[Note: If the proposal involves tumor induction, utilize the IACUC’s Tumor
Induction Endpoint Criteria found here:
http://www.research.umn.edu/iacuc/guides-regulations/TumorInductionEndpointCriteria.cfm ]
- Describe the use of restraint devices, if relevant
Suggested Response: Review IACUC guidelines on physical restraint:
http://www.research.umn.edu/iacuc/guidelines/documents/IACUCGuidelineonPhysicalRestraint.doc
[Note: If a completed ACUP for the grant activities is available, repeat here the
information supplied in Appendix K. If the animal activity was submitted via
eProtocol, repeat here the responses in the Procedure section for Conscious
Restraint.]
August 2013