FY 10 Per Diem Memo

July 1, 2009

Dear Investigator,

The Laboratory Animal Care Unit and the Vice Chancellor for Research are pleased to announce there will be no increase in perdiem or service rates for FY10 that begins July 1, 2009. Although the published projected rates for FY10 and FY11 included a 3% increase, the increase for FY10 will not be implemented. In 2007 and 2008, the LACU implemented a number of measures to reduce overall operating expenses through changes in staffing and operating procedures that have helped to curtail costs through improvement in efficiency. Although these were effective measures, a precipitous drop in census during FY07 and FY08 prevented full realization of the benefits. As the current animal census has returned to 2007 levels, the LACU operating budget has improved such that we can take advantage of economy of scale in operation of the facilities. A capital improvement project that was funded by the State in 2007 will be completed this spring. This project has provided funding for new caging, core equipment (cagewasher and autoclaves), as well as certain renovations and repairs. Some of the repairs and replacement equipment funded by this project would necessarily have come from the LACU operating budget that is primarily supported by recovery. In addition, many of the capital improvements such as the automated watering system and new cagewasher have directly contributed to reduced operating costs.

Please be advised, however, that the LACU budget is subject to changes from year to year based on many factors such as census, staffing, and cost of supplies such as feed, bedding, and disposable PPE. We will publish projected rates for FY11 and FY12 based on inflation, labor, and other volatile costs.

The LACU appreciates the continued concern and support from administration and faculty for the animal resource program as we move forward to accommodate the increased complexity of research at UTHSC while maintaining full compliance with Federal regulations and accrediting agency standards. These resulting changes increase demand for qualified personnel and resources as well as challenge our efforts to maintain an AAALAC accredited program. We will continue to implement procedural changes to protect the health of valuable animal subjects, improve efficiency of the overall animal care operation, and promote the highest level of animal care.

 

Timothy D. Mandrell, DVM, DACLAM
Director, Laboratory Animal Care Unit
Professor and Chair, Department of Comparative MedicineProfessor and Chair

Contact Us

Timothy D. Mandrell, D.V.M.
Director,
Laboratory Animal Care Unit
956 Court Avenue,
Box 17
Room B106,
Memphis, TN 38163

Phone: 901-448-5656
Fax: 901-448-8506