Veterinary Research and Resources Section

The NEI Veterinary Research and Resources Section (VRRS) is located under the Office of the Scientific Director and is responsible for the housing, care, and environmental enrichment of all laboratory animals utilized in both the Institute's Intramural Research Program (IRP) and the NEI lead Central Animal Facility (CAF). The Section is committed to programs of excellence in veterinary health care, animal husbandry, technical support, and program administration. The program has been accredited by AAALAC International since 1993.

The NEI VRRS can help NEI IRP investigators with:

• Animal Study Proposals (Protocols) – Veterinary pre-review, study design, protocol review, proposal development, execution, and post approval monitoring (PAM). See our ACUC page for more information.
   
• Veterinary Services - Veterinarians are on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days of the week and ready to assist with any animal illness, injury, or coordination of emergency care and continuity of operations.
   
• Animal Relocations - Assistance with animal procurement, importation, re-derivation, and exportation.
   
• Technical Assistance and Training – Our staff can perform or train investigators in animal handling, identification methods, breeding and colony management, anesthesia, recognition and alleviation of pain or distress in animals, vital signs monitoring, aseptic surgery, behavior modification and positive reinforcement training.
   
• Program Support – Advises the NEI Scientific Director and the NEI ACUC on animal care and use issues, recommends policies and coordinates implantation of approved policies, assures that our program of animal care adheres to the highest standards for welfare, scientific reproducibility, and integrity in compliance with all NIH guidelines, policies, federal laws and regulations.