The Animal Study Lifecycle

Developing Your Animal Study

• Protocol Development - Selecting Your Animal Model

  Consider whether a species of a lower order or using alternative (i.e., non-animal) methods will still produce informative data. Justify the use of animals and the choice of species in the IACUC application.  Provide a logical justification based on scientific evidence. 

  You can contact a DLAR veterinarian to seek guidance on selecting an animal model.  

  In addition, consults with a DLAR veterinarian are useful for planning the study concept and design, handling and manipulations, surgical techniques, anesthesia, analgesia, equipment and personnel support.  

  Contact DLAR for assistance:  VET@uthscsa.edu or LAR@uthscsa.edu

• Protocol Development - Assessing DLAR Capacity

  An overview of DLAR services and equipment is available in the Budget Development section.

  Schedule a consult with a DLAR veterinarian to assess specific resources needed for your study plan and to determine whether DLAR is able to provided support. 

  Contact DLAR for assistance:  VET@uthscsa.edu or LAR@uthscsa.edu

• Protocol Development - Institutional Core Labs

  Bioanalytics & Single-cell - provides standardized, high-quality services to support translational research, including pre-analytical biospecimen single-cell processing and isolation procedures, as well as analytical technologies.

  Biobanking & Genome Analysis - services such as whole genome SNP genotyping and copy number variations analysis, whole genome gene expression microarrays and whole genome methylation microarrays.

  Biomolecular NMR - advanced, high-field NMR instrumentation for structural studies of biological macromolecules.

  Flow Cytometry - digital, high-speed cell sorting and multicolor analysis and downstream genomic/metabolomic analysis, as well as clonal expansion.

  Macromolecular Interations - technology services include Dynamic and Static Light Scattering, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy, and Protein Expression and Purification.

  Mass Spectrometry - provides metabolomics and proteomics instrumentation and software.

  Optical Imaging - acquisition and analysis of optical data and imaging of living cells, tissues, and animals.

  X-Ray Crystallography - detailed 3-D analyses of biological macromolecules.

  Learn more about Core Labs  Bioanalytics & Single-cell; Biobanking & Genome Analysis; Biomolecular NMR; Flow Cytometry; Marcomolecular Interactions; Mass Spectrometry; Optical Imaging; X-Ray Crystallography

• Grant Development - Funding Opportunities

  Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) exist in a variety of domains. The Office of Sponsored Programs collects relevant resources to assist investigators in locating and applying for external funding.

  Learn more about current funding opportunities 

• Grant Development - Statistical Planning

  The Department of Population Health Sciences provides statistical support for bioinformatics and applied epidemiology, and offers computational biology and informatics expertise, including database design and application development, as well as

  all physical procedures by which information or biospecimens are gathered or manipulation of the subject or the subject's environment performed for research purposes.

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  , evaluation, and health policy expertise.

  Learn more about the services of the Department of Population Health Sciences.

• Grant Development - GrantSeekers

  Interested in improving the quality of your grant application?

  The GrantSeekers 2.0 program is designed to give investigators the opportunity for an internal and external review process prior to submission of their NIH, VA or other proposals. Initial reviews are provided via a review of an oral presentation provided by the investigator. The makeup of the review panel is determined by the investigator based on the ability to provide critical reviews for the subject matter and can include an external reviewer. The Expanded GrantSeekers program facilitates external peer review and support at other stages of the grant development process, including early-stage development, preliminary data for scored but unfunded proposals, and manuscript review.

  Learn more about the GrantSeekers Program.

• Grant Submission - Office of Sponsored Programs

  All proposals for external funding that require either a signature by an HSC Authorized Official or a budget must be reviewed by OSP. OSP requires that you allow three (3) business days for review of your proposal, regardless of whether it is paper or electronic submission. 

  Learn more about proposal preparation and review.