Animal Research CUE Sheet - 12.04.2025

Animal Care and Use Express (CUE) Sheet

A bi-monthly (ish) communication from the UMD Animal Care Program with important information to keep you right on cue!

AY 25-26 | Issue 4

End of Semester CUE

Happy Holidays and congratulations on reaching the end of the Fall 2025 semester!

The animal research community at UMD has observed several improvements this year, under the efforts of new leadership, team members and our dedicated PIs and researchers. IACUC Standards and DLAR SOPs have been updated, new communication methods have been established, and the process to further centralize the management of animal care has advanced significantly. Our vets, animal care staff, and researchers remain committed to the highest standard of animal care and these efforts have led to fewer inspection findings and a more robust understanding of the needs of our community and our program. Congratulations on the good work! 

As we wrap up the Fall 2025 semester, there are a few items that we would like to pass along that we think will help our program and processes improve and become more efficient in the future:  

1. PI roles and responsibilities: Please remember that while others in your research group may draft and submit protocols or amendments, the PI on the protocol is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the research, compliance of the activities, and the safety of your staff. Because of this, students are not permitted to be the PI on an IACUC protocol, nor should they be solely responsible for the content. Note: Senior post-docs, research faculty, and others may serve as PI on an IACUC protocol, if you and they agree that they have sufficient knowledge, ability and authority to meet PI responsibilities for the activity. It is very important that all submissions and any subsequent required modifications should be reviewed by you before sending it on to the IACUC. Your colleagues on the IACUC greatly appreciate the effort you make prior to submission and you will appreciate how much faster the approval process will go.       

2. Medications, anesthetics, analgesics and other administered substances: To ensure the health and wellbeing of the animals as well as to achieve the best possible scientific outcomes, all administered drugs and other substances must be stored appropriately, used within their expiration date, and records properly maintained. In the case of controlled substances, remember that these drugs must be stored and used only in the specific locations indicated on your DEA license, and used only by the individuals listed. For drug mixtures, please ensure that there is a label that includes the substances in the mixture, the concentration of each substance, the date created, and the expiration date. The expiration date of a drug or mixture should be based on:

   1. Manufacturer's instructions (i.e., package inserts, particularly for early discard times for multi-use vials)

   2. The earliest expiration date of any of the components (if contains preservatives)

   3. Scientific literature and/or industry guidance. Please consult with the veterinary group for guidance.

3. Animal Health/Death Reporting: It is the responsibility of the PI to communicate all animal health concerns and unexpected animal deaths to the University Attending Veterinarian, who is responsible for the health and welfare of all animals in the program. Consistent communication allows the veterinary team to provide guidance on treatments, make assessments about overall animal colony health, and plan for additional testing or data-gathering. Of course, some health concerns may be part of the experimental design and as such do not need to be reported if they are consistent with your protocol and accompanied by the use of scoring sheets, endpoint criteria and a plan for veterinary care. Unexpected health concerns and/or those that deviate significantly from predicted should be reported and veterinary consultation obtained. Note: Death as an endpoint must be scientifically justified and approved in your IACUC protocol.) Documentation of animal health concerns/unexpected deaths should be submitted as follows:

   1. DLAR-managed facilities should use the Orange Health Cards.

   2. PI-managed facilities and farms should use the Google Form set up by Dr. Bowie.

   3. In case of emergencies, the on call vet can be reached at 301.458.5047.