Current per diem rates are listed below. Rates increased July 2004 due to inflationary costs of housing and care of animals in the Veterinary Medical Unit.

Free online training developed by VA Headquarters Office for Research and Development is available for animal users. This training is quick, easy, instructive, and mandatory. Instructions for accessing the training site are linked below.  Animal users need to complete the following course modules: Working with the Charleston IACUC, and protocol-specific species and technique modules (i.e. mouse, cat, surgery, antibody production). This training must be renewed triennially. To obtain educational credit for the training, print the certificate upon successful completion of the on-line exam and submit a copy to the Research Education Coordinator in the Research Office, Jenna Gillis (gillis@musc.edu). For additional help, please contact Dr. Mary Ann McCrackin, Veterinary Medical Officer, 843-876-5206; mary.mccrackin@va.gov.

The BSL-II presentation, linked below, was developed to help guide investigators and staff on maintaining a safe working environment while working with BSL-II Level conditions in the animal environment.  To obtain additional information, please contact Dr. Mary Ann McCrackin, Veterinary Medical Officer (843-876-5206), or Krista Harris, VA Animal Facility Supervisor (843-792-9755).

IACUC.org  - Sponsored by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS): This website contains regulations, online Animal Care Inspection reports, alternatives to animal research, etc.

USDA Animal Welfare Act - Laws that govern the use of animals in research.

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals - National Research Council:  Description of policies used to evaluate animal care and use programs by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).

Animal Welfare Information Center – Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:  Contains information on alternatives and data base searches that address reduction, refinement and replacement of animals.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing:  This website contains news, information, discussion and resources pertaining to alternatives to animal testing.

View AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition:  - Information is contained on acceptable euthanasia techniques.

VA / MUSC IACUC Policies and Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research (This is a non-VA website.  By clicking this link, you will leave the VA domain and go to the MUSC domain.)  This site also provides guidance on anesthetic/analgesic doses.