NHLBI Animal Program Division

National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

NHLBI APD is responsible for directing the NHLBI animal care and use program and supporting the NHLBI investigators. The NHLBI APD works within the DIR to establish a consistent management in the animal program, the Animal Care and Use Committee and with investigators. ANIMAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT In addition to the surgery core, the NHLBI animal program provides veterinary care, research technical support and animal husbandry to rodents in NHLBI operated facilities and oversight of NHLBI animal activities in other NIH facilities. This includes logistical and financial management as well as regulatory compliance for all NHLBI animal activities. Dr. Clark and Ms. Joni Taylor also serve as members of the NHLBI Animal Care and Use Committee which is responsible for the research use and regulatory compliance of the animal research activities. Dr. Clark and the program managers assist investigators with a wide variety of support to include, but not limited to: a) research support with laboratory animal methodologies; b) veterinary care and consultation in areas such as surgical preparation, surgical technique, analgesia and anesthesia, and environmental enrichment c) technical and professional advice on comparative medicine and model development; d) assistance with global animal procurement, importation, re-derivation and exportation; and e) provides training to NHLBI investigators on the proper care, use, husbandry and humane treatment of research animals. Animal Program staff were co-authors on six publications/abstract in FY 25. SURGERY CORE SCIENTIFIC IMPACT Training within DIR ASR provides a formal 4-hour training class for all research staff who do animal surgery in NHLBI. We provide investigators with surgical training both within group settings and in one-on-one settings. Over the past 12 months, we have formally trained a total of 134 surgical procedures for 32 investigators in basic surgical skills, aseptic technique and research specific surgeries in our investigator training course. Outside DIR Teaching & Mentoring For the last 20 years, ASR staff has served as instructors for multiple microsurgical workshop wet-labs (basic and advanced) at the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). The travel for this is sponsored and paid for by AALAS. This is one of their most popular and highly rated workshops. The NHLBI APD also participates in outreach programs such as providing tour to Bring Your Child to Work Day and JHS Tougaloo Scholars