Laboratory Animal Medicine A Key to A Very Bright Future Name of LAM Vet presenting.

Laboratory Animal Medicine

A Key to A Very Bright Future

Name of LAM Vet presenting

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Raise your hand if….

You have ever been vaccinated You have ever taken a medication You have ever had surgery/hospital stay You have ever donated or received blood You know someone who has had diabetes,

cancer or other diseases

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Many current medical treatments depend on animal research.

Vaccines against polio, measles and smallpox

“Iron lung used for polio victims, 1956”

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Open-heart surgery, coronary bypass, heart valve replacement

Diabetes therapies

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...These treatments benefit not only people, but animals too!

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Pookie: Living with diabetes

Buddy: After his heart surgery

Maggie: Breast cancer survivor

Lucy: After her kidney transplant

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But a lot of misinformation has been spread about animal research.

Some people do not realize the many benefits of animal research to both people and animals.

People do not always know that animals are treated humanely and with great respect.

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Despite these misconceptions, 2/3 to 3/4 of Americans support the need for animal research.

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“One world, one health, one medicine”

While new diseases lie ahead for people and animals, animal research can help us investigate and treat these.

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What led me to become a laboratory animal veterinarian?

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Diverse career opportunities exist in laboratory animal medicine (LAM). Clinical veterinary medicine Administration Research Teaching and training Pathology Regulatory oversight

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Clinical LAM vets provide health care for a variety of species. They may also:

– Review research protocols to ensure animal welfare

– Consult with scientists about model development

– Provide technical support for research (perform ultrasound exams or surgeries)

No 2 days are alike!

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Administration Manage budget and staffing issues May write grants to improve the program or

request equipment Liaison to senior management to ensure

support for optimal animal program

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Research

Veterinarians may head or contribute to research projects

Independent or collaborative research Tremendous diversity of research

– Infectious disease, physiology, biology, reproduction, surgery, cancer biology, pharmaceutics, neuroscience, biomedical instrumentation, toxicology…

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Teaching & Training

LAM vets teach in veterinary schools, veterinary technician schools, graduate programs.

Veterinarians can serve as trainers for other veterinary residents, graduate students, research staff, animal care staff.

A well-developed training program is an essential part of a good lab animal program.

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Pathology

Pathologists with laboratory animal expertise are in great demand!

They are required to help diagnose rodent strain abnormalities, drug side effects, and diseases in individual research animals.

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Regulatory Oversight Institutional Animal Care and Use

Committee (IACUC) is mandated by USDA regulations

Must include a LAM veterinarian Review all animal use protocols, and

animal facilities Investigate animal concerns

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Alternatives (3Rs) = Reduce, Refine, Replace

Reduce animal numbers– Better statistics, less redundancy

Refinement of animal models– Less invasive procedures, better analgesics and

anesthetics Replacement of animal models

– Cell culture, computer modeling

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Animals are also provided enrichment in the form of exercise, toys, music, group housing, videos and other food treats.

Environmental Enrichment

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What animal species will I work with? Depends on type of program ~95% of research animals are rats/mice.

– Rodents, genetically-engineered. ~5% other species

– Domestic species (dogs, ferrets, pigs).– Nonhuman primates – Exotics – woodchucks, bats, fish, amphibians,

reptiles, etc.

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LAM versus Private Practice Clientele - pet owner vs. scientist –

different issues. Individual care vs. herd health – depends

on study, some rare & valuable strains/species.

Diagnostics – pursue if you have time, money, tools – write up interesting cases.

Hours / Schedule – usually less weekend work!

Must Work Well with Human primates too!

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Where are the jobs?

Anywhere biomedical research is performed– Academia – both large and small programs– Pharmaceutical Companies– Biotech Companies– Hospitals– Government-Military-NIH– Public Health

Throughout the US / world

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LAM has several advantages.

Diverse jobs Flexible hours Good pay

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ACLAM is the governing college for laboratory animal veterinarians.

ACLAM = American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine

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Other LAM organizations can also provide information.

American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP)

American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)

Charles L. Davis Foundation for the Advancement of Veterinary and Comparative Pathology

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Do I need to become ACLAM board-certified?

Maybe or maybe not for clinical jobs.– Mid-career veterinarians can be valuable LAM

veterinarians due to their clinical, fiscal and “people” skills.

– But salary range is higher if certified. Board certification is usually required for

higher-level administrative jobs.

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How do I become ACLAM board-certified?

Qualification to take board exams can be done via either – a traditional residency “training” route– or a nontraditional “experience” route

First-author research publication Certifying examination

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The “training” route is very common, especially for recently-graduated veterinarians.

Residencies may have a:– Clinical focus: Learn LAM & administration of

an animal research program.– Research focus (NIH): Pursue an MS or PhD– Combination focus

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How do I find a residency training program?

Visit the ACLAM web site– http://www.aclam.org/education-and-training/

training-programs Talk to a lab animal vet Do an externship…more info later.

Where are the residency programs located?

Size of program varies from 1-2 trainees up to 10-12 trainees!

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Externships can introduce vet students OR practicing veterinarians to LAM.

2-12 weeks, during summer or the academic year

Flexible experience depending on interest Room and board may be covered May receive a small stipend for living

expenses

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Where can I find out more about externships?

Check ACLAM’s website: – http://www.aclam.org/career-outreach/career-p

athways Check ASLAP’s website:

– http://www.aslap.org/careers Consider academia, biotechnology, federal

government, and primate centers.

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If a residency is not right for you, consider ACLAM certification via the “experience route.”

Small colleges and contract laboratories may employ you even if you don’t have LAM experience.– Part-time may be a good start.

But be sure to find an experienced LAM mentor to learn from!

Work Hard but Have Fun!

Questions?