Research Animal Resources and Compliance (RARC) is a stand-alone unit within the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) that supports compliance for research and teaching with animals, including providing training, administrative support for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees, and independent veterinary care and oversight. The professional RARC veterinary staff are appropriately trained to also provide research procedure support services. This policy outlines the activities that fall outside of the core mission of the RARC and constitute research support activities and for which a fee-for-service model will be utilized.
This policy applies to all direct research support provided by RARC staff to investigators conducting research and teaching with live animals at the UW-Madison.
Veterinary Services
Veterinary staff provide routine care for all research animals on campus and at UW-Madison satellite facilities at no charge to investigators. While not charged fees for veterinary staff time, investigators may be required to supply drugs or other supplies. In general, routine care includes the following:
Veterinary support of specific research activities generally will be charged to the investigators conducting the research. Charges will also include cost of supplies and drugs (if provided by RARC) and equipment fees if use of RARC equipment is required. Examples of this include providing:
Pathology Services
Services from the RARC Comparative Pathology Laboratory are offered on a fee-for-service basis. Services ordered by veterinarians to diagnose a clinical problem are charged to the investigator or animal facility at a reduced “Diagnostic” rate. Services provided to investigators to assist in their research model are provided at the internal “UW Research” rate. All rates are calculated to recoup actual costs and not to generate profit, as is required by University Policy.
Colony Surveillance
As part of the animal colony health surveillance program, RARC staff collect samples from colonies to determine if specific pathogens are present. They may also perform water quality testing and autoclave efficacy verification. In general, RARC provides the labor to collect samples at no charge, but individual animal facilities pay for samples to be sent to outside laboratories (e.g. serology testing).
Training Services
RARC Trainers and Veterinary staff provide training free of charge for all students and staff affiliated with UW-Madison and working with research animals. Depending on individual need, training may include instruction on routine handling, introductory surgical techniques, and techniques such as blood collection, injections, and some specialized techniques. If investigators request a Trainer be present during the first protocol-related procedure performed by the lab, this will also be provided at no charge. Additional procedures with a Trainer present may be charged to the investigator.
Calculated rates are limited to recouping costs of labor and supplies required to support the research activities.
