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ULAM
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Date: May 7, 2008The Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) has started a "Lean Thinking Project" that involves the “Delivery of Veterinary Services to Rodents at the University of Michigan”. We feel that we must employ the concepts of lean thinking to deliver quality veterinary care to research animals to deal with the expansive growth rate of animals that has and will occur in the future. For example, since 1995 we have nearly quadrupled our animal numbers and doubled our animal space with minimal increases in ULAM veterinary personnel. Areas that we have identified as needing modifications include the clinical case reporting system along with identification and notification of laboratory personnel about animal health issues, communication with the labs about options for treatment, identification of laboratory personnel who can make medical decisions about research animals, and effective and efficient communication systems that work in animal facilities. Ideas for improvements to these areas will be made through a series of “experiments” or “pilot projects” where ideas are tested in the field. We have selected the areas mentioned above to begin work because we felt that these were important areas with issues that needed to be addressed. We realize that there are other areas that will need to be addressed in the future. As we adapt to this new operational model, please feel free to comment on how we’re doing and make suggestions for other areas or issues we may need to address. Current information about ULAM Lean Team projects is posted on CTools with a link from our website. For further information about our team efforts or progress, please contact Karen Rogers x61701 or Howard Rush x63805.
MemorandumDate: April 9, 2007To: University of Michigan Rodent Users Concerning Maximum Housing Densities for Rodents. Please download and read this Standard Operating Procedure pdf document.
Date: March 27, 2007To: University of Michigan Rodent Users Several research institutions across the country have found that Matrigel* Basement Membrane Matrix made by BD Biosciences is potentially contaminated with Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus or LDEV, a togavirus of mice. ULAM strongly recommends that all cell lines and biological materials that are used in rodents be tested for rodent pathogens. A few commercial diagnostic laboratories that can do these tests are listed below. Please note that many of these testing options are in offered in panels that include a range of tests. Be sure to chose a panel that includes testing for LDEV. Charles River Laboratories ULAM would like to request that rodent users using Matrigel products in their studies please notify us (see email below) so that we can more accurately monitor those areas that have potential exposure to LDEV through Matrigel administration. Please feel free to contact me with questions and concerns Thank you Melissa C. Dyson, DVM, MS, DACLAM Date: September 13, 2006To: ALL Investigators and Staff with Mouse Breeding Colonies From: ULAM Husbandry Management Re: Policy Change for Laboratories Using the Mouse-Single Rate Per Diem We are writing to inform you that we are phasing out the mouse-single rate per diem. The mouse-single rate was initially designed to be a labor saver for ULAM and a cost savings to you. After much analysis, however, we have determined that while there might be a cost savings to you, there is no savings in labor. This has become increasingly apparent when there are few, intermittent mouse-single cages in a mouse housing room. The decision to phase out the mouse-single per diem comes after much thought and discussion, as we know that this could have a significant impact on your budget. To lessen the impact, we have decided to implement this change over several months. The laboratories that are currently using the mouse-single rate per diem can continue to do so unaffected until February 1, 2007. However, after October 1, 2006 no additional laboratories will be able to use the rate. On February 1, 2007, any laboratories that have been identified as qualifying laboratories will be ‘grandfathered’ into receiving the mouse-single per diem rate. We have begun our analysis for determining qualifying labs which entails gathering data from three different time points throughout the year and considering total amount of care days and average daily census of cages on the mouse-single cost center. Any laboratories that don’t meet these criteria will not qualify then, or at any time in the future. For all intents and purposes, the mouse-single per diem rate will not be available after February 1, 2007, except to the grandfathered labs. Once the grandfathered labs have been determined we will personally notify those labs to coordinate training of the new procedures for using the mouse-single rate per diem. Thank you for your time and if you have questions please contact Valerie Hamlin, Chris Katz or Carrie Haist at 764-0277. MEMORANDUMTO: UM Medical School Principal Investigators UM Medical School Department Chairs UM Medical School Department Administrators FROM: Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) DATE: August 24, 2006 SUBJECT: Policy on Quality Assurance Fee (QAF) The Quality Assurance Fee (QAF), which was implemented by ULAM and the Dean’s Office in 1992, is assessed to recover the full cost of providing animal care. It is used by ULAM in various ways to improve the animal care and use program such as replacing animal care equipment and improvement of animal facilities. It is assessed on all Non-Federal funding sources and applied to Medical School projects only. The fee is 45% and is assessed on the direct cost of animal purchases, animal care and ULAM services. In the past, the Quality Assurance Fee could be waived or reduced based on mitigating circumstances following a case-by-case review. Unfortunately, this has caused considerable confusion in the research community as well as among research administrators. Therefore, ULAM would like to make both the application of the fee and the reasons for waiver or reduction consistent and clearly known to the research community. The following will apply beginning September 1, 2006. The Quality Assurance Fee will be waived under these circumstances: 1) Research using bridging funds from BMRC, EBS or OVPR 2) New faculty recruited at the level of Assistant Professor or below using “start-up” funding will be exempt for two years. After two years, the QAF will be assessed even when “start-up” funds are used for animal purchases, care, and ULAM services. For faculty recruited after September 1, 2006 who fall into one of these two categories, the Chair of the investigator’s department can request the application of the new policy in a letter to the ULAM Director or Administrator. However, retroactive refunds will not be issued. The Quality Assurance Fee will not be waived under these circumstances: 1) New faculty recruited at the level of Associate Professor or above. If you have any questions regarding the policy, please contact Anitha Chennat anich@umich.edu (6-1698).
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