A Letter from Our Director

To: Emory University Faculty Using Experimental Animals

Re: Animal Charge Rates, FY2027

Date: October 6, 2027

Dear Colleagues,

Attached is the Fiscal Year 2027 DAR Schedule of Charges for animal per diem and special services, effective September 1, 2026. It is also available on the DAR website. Rates are based on DAR's annual comprehensive fiscal analysis of per diem and service charges and on budget and census projections for the new year. They were presented to the Animal Resources Advisory Committee (ARAC) on September 24, 2026, and approved by Research Business Operations for compliance and the SOM Interim Assistant Dean for Animal Resources.

Costs escalated throughout FY26. In addition, FY27 annual staff raises of 3–4% and a 1% fringe benefit increase put upward pressure on rates even before rising nonlabor costs are considered. Emory's mouse census also declined in FY25 and FY26, which spreads fixed costs over fewer units. As a result, you'll see increases of 3–7%, depending on cost center.

Several changes are coming in FY27, aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing costs. These include an online animal ordering platform where investigators can also view their census and bills, improved clinical case communication, and simplified clinical recharges. There are also some new recharges. Please use the bolded headers below to find the information relevant to you. I will be available for questions at the following sessions:

• Session 1: in the Whitehead lobby, Tuesday 10/13 4-5pm
• Session 2: in the HSRBII lobby, Wednesday 10/14 9:30-10:30 am
• Session 3: on Zoom, Thursday 10/22 11am-12pm
  
  Zoom Link to Sessions: 
  https://zoom.us/j/97583690711?pwd=4aU5Mr8gyY74r6EMFf1aSf65qRuzu0.1&from=addon

As we move into FY27, DAR continues to manage financial uncertainty, with mitigation efforts across all areas of our operation. We appreciate your understanding as we make these adjustments.

Thank you for your partnership.

Best regards,

Deborah Mook, DVM, DACLAM
Executive Director, Division of Animal Resources

Mandy Ford, PhD
Interim Assistant Dean for Animal Resources

Efficiency initiatives

• New online eBiz animal-ordering platform: DAR will launch an online platform that replaces the current paper-based process. Investigators will be able to place animal orders and view their census and bills directly. This should reduce administrative effort for labs and DAR alike. Rollout is planned for January 2027, and please watch for training sessions.
• Clinical case communication: Beginning November 2026, veterinary technicians will contact the lab before seeing a clinical case. The lab will have 2 hours to respond, except in life-threatening emergencies or at the end of the workday. This lets the lab authorize treatments before the case is seen, so the animal can be treated at the first visit, technician time is used more efficiently, and each visit delivers the most value under the new recharging structure (see below).  The lab may also approve euthanasia if warranted. For non-USDA species, the technician will perform this at no charge on the first visit, but a return visit to euthanize will be recharged.
• Large animal surgery scheduling: Monthly demand has swung from near capacity to well below it, and staffing for occasional peaks leaves costs unrecovered. Beginning November 2026, surgery will be scheduled to DAR's current staffing capacity. Investigators will need to plan ahead, coordinate with the DAR team, and be flexible to fill available time. This change is expected to lower the cost of the service for all users.
• Protocol expiration warnings: Beginning November 2026, DAR will send two protocol expiration warnings (60/90 days) instead of three (30/60/90 days).
• Failed speedtypes: when speedtypes are incorrect or expire and DAR has not been provided updated information, the DAR will recharge the department suspense account and allow investigators to resolve speedtypes within their departments.  This saves administrative overhead and will help reduce costs for investigators.
• Under analysis: Given rising training demand, we're exploring a train-the-trainer program to certify trusted lab managers to train on select IACUC-required trainings currently performed by DAR trainers. Additionally, given the labor required to keep over 15,000 cage cards current with constantly changing speedtypes, we're assessing the impact of removing speedtypes from cage cards. Both changes would help reduce costs for investigators and direct limited resources to higher value activities; more to come as this develops.

Changes to existing recharges

• Clinical case recharge: Veterinary care for non-USDA species will now be billed consistently, whether a condition is study-related or spontaneous. This replaces the current practice of charging only for study-caused conditions, which are often difficult and time-consuming to determine. The first three visits for a case are not charged, and charges begin at the fourth visit. This change focuses limited veterinary resources on early intervention and preserves capacity for high-impact clinical care and research support.
• Large animal surgery cancellation recharges: Because tentative reservations prevent others from scheduling, cancellation fees have been increased and extended in duration.
• Rodent surgery suite recharges: In FY26, we established recharges to recover the costs of managing these suites. The FY26 recharge did not recover costs, and the FY27 recharge reflects cost recovery.  In addition, because not all labs are using the rooms as envisioned, in FY27 we will adopt a key card swipe audit process. Entry into the room when not scheduled on the calendar system will be charged a $75 flat fee. The same rates apply if you use the rooms and equipment for non-surgical procedures. 
• Shipping coordination per animal import/export: This recharge will be consolidated into a single rate rather than the existing three-tiered system.  This change streamlines administrative processes, facilitates predictability and will help reduce costs for investigators.

New Recharges

• Exclusive space use ($4.15/NSF/year, $0.35/NSF/month): This monthly recharge recovers DAR's costs of managing the room. You may have an MOU for DAR space, or you may exclusively occupy a space without one. In either case, DAR will contact you in the coming months to confirm your continued need, update or start an MOU, and obtain a speedtype. To allow time for this process, the recharge will begin in January 2027.  
• Animal receiving (varies by species): Although the mouse census has declined, the number of animals received has increased in recent years. The animal order fee does not cover the effort of receiving animals. This recharge captures that effort and will be combined with the existing biowaste recharge.
• A new species set-up ($7,500, $15,000, or $15,000 plus equipment or additional labor, depending on complexity): Establishing housing, husbandry protocols, and staff training for a species or activity DAR does not currently support requires significant one-time investment. This fee is assessed when an investigator decides to proceed, and it recovers that cost based on complexity.  For new investigators, this cost may be recovered in their start-up package.
• New investigator/staff onboarding ($400/person): Onboarding new lab or research staff involves facility orientation, training on institutional policies, and setting up key card access. This recharge recovers that direct cost. A $125 fee applies when orientation is requested separately for staff who have already been onboarded.  For FY27, this fee excludes undergraduate and graduate students pending discussions with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Laney Graduate School.  Note this fee may apply to students in FY28.
• Facility orientation for existing staff ($125/person individual, $60/person group session): this recharge applies if an existing staff member must gain access and be oriented to a new facility.  For FY27, this fee excludes undergraduate and graduate students, and may apply to this group in FY28.
  
  

Timeline of changes