VITALS Academy

VITALS Academy is NiKara Preclinical’s training program for research teams working in small and large animal anesthesia, surgery, and perioperative care.

Each module blends applied physiology, real-world troubleshooting, and hands-on skill development to help technicians and research staff deliver safer, more stable anesthetic and surgical care. Training can be built around your procedures, species, and facility, and delivered on-site, virtually, or as prepared and self-guided materials.

Whether you’re preparing for a new study, onboarding new staff, or building consistency across your team, VITALS Academy provides the practical training needed to elevate your program.

Learn More

Core Training Modules

VITALS Academy modules build on one another, starting with species-specific foundations, moving through the physiologic systems that keep anesthesia stable, and finishing with applied practice and study integration. Teams can follow the full progression, choose a suggested track, or select individual modules to fill specific gaps.

  • Where every team starts: species-specific anesthetic fundamentals.

    Large Animal Anesthesia Foundations
    Species: Swine, sheep, NHP (as applicable)
    Topics:

    • Anesthetic planning and setup

    • Monitoring strategies

    • Ventilation and perfusion stability

    • Troubleshooting intraoperative instability

    Outcomes: Improved stability, fewer complications, and increased technician confidence.

    Small Animal Anesthesia Foundations
    Species: Canine, feline, rabbit, rodent (as applicable)
    Topics:

    • Protocol development

    • Monitoring and interpretation

    • Airway management

    • Recognizing and responding to early warning signs

    Outcomes: More consistent anesthetic planes and better recovery quality.

  • The core systems behind stable anesthesia, taught in the order they build on each other.

    Ventilation & Airway Management
    Topics:

    • Ventilator setup and modes

    • EtCO₂ interpretation

    • Airway anatomy differences across species

    • Troubleshooting hypoventilation

    • Airway rescue techniques

    Outcomes: Better ventilation control, fewer airway complications, and improved oxygenation.

    Fluid Therapy & Volume Assessment
    Topics:

    • Crystalloids vs. colloids

    • PPV/SVV interpretation

    • Assessing fluid responsiveness

    • Knowing when to transition to pressors

    Outcomes: Better volume management and fewer fluid-related complications.

    Perfusion & Blood Pressure Management
    Topics:

    • MAP targets by species

    • Invasive vs. noninvasive blood pressure (IBP vs. NIBP)

    • Waveform interpretation

    • Pressor selection

    • Hypotension troubleshooting

    Outcomes: More stable perfusion, fewer hypotension events, and improved data quality.

    Temperature & Metabolic Stability
    Topics:

    • Hypothermia prevention

    • Hyperthermia recognition

    • Warming and cooling strategies

    • Metabolic consequences of temperature shifts

    Outcomes: More stable physiology and fewer temperature-related anesthetic issues.

  • Bringing the systems together under real procedural conditions.

    Surgical Support Techniques
    Topics:

    • Patient positioning

    • Monitoring during surgical manipulation

    • Managing physiologic shifts

    • Communication with surgeons

    Outcomes: Smoother procedures and improved interdisciplinary coordination.

    Emergency Response & Troubleshooting
    Topics:

    • Rapid assessment

    • Airway emergencies

    • Perfusion collapse

    • Ventilation failure

    • Crisis decision-making

    Outcomes: Faster, more confident responses during intraoperative instability.

  • Applying anesthetic expertise to study design and execution.

    Study-Specific Protocol Development
    Topics:

    • Pre-study planning

    • Protocol optimization

    • Species-specific considerations

    • Anticipating complications

    Outcomes: More consistent data, fewer deviations, and improved study efficiency.

  • Training built around your team, your study, and your facility. Custom modules can stand alone or extend any level of the core program.

    Tailored to your:

    • Species and study model

    • Specific procedures

    • Facility equipment

    • Technician experience level

    • Pre-study preparation needs

    Delivery options:

    • On-site, hands-on training (wet lab, dry lab, and simulation-based)

    • Virtual presentation

    • Prepared or self-guided training materials

    Outcomes: Training that matches how your team actually works, so skills transfer directly to your next study.

    New custom modules can be developed on request. Contact me to discuss your team’s needs.

Discuss Training Modules

  • Interactive sessions focused on physiology, monitoring, troubleshooting, and case-based learning.

    • 60–90 minute focused sessions

    • Waveform interpretation workshops

    • Protocol review and optimization

    • Pre-study planning consults

    Ideal for: Teams wanting targeted education without scheduling a full on-site training day.

  • On-site, species-specific training at your facility, using your equipment and tailored to your procedures and study models.

    • Wet lab, dry lab, and simulation-based instruction

    • Real-time coaching during anesthetic setup, monitoring, and troubleshooting

    • Procedure replication and skills validation

    • Protocol walkthroughs with your team

    Ideal for: Teams needing practical, real-time instruction, protocol refinement, and hands-on skill building.

  • Virtual pre-training followed by an on-site, hands-on day.

    • Foundational modules completed virtually before the visit

    • On-site time focused entirely on hands-on practice and application

    • Consistent baseline knowledge across the whole team

    Ideal for: Teams preparing for a new model or study who want foundational knowledge before hands-on practice.

  • Prepared training materials your team can work through on its own schedule.

    • Ready-to-use training slide decks

    • Suitable for onboarding and refresher training

    • Can be paired with virtual Q&A sessions

    Ideal for: Teams onboarding new staff or needing flexible, on-demand refreshers.

Training Formats

Every core module and custom training can be delivered in the format that best fits your team’s schedule, location, and goals.

Discuss Training Options

Free Content from VITALS Academy

A focused monthly read covering procedural insights, technique tips, and observations from the field. Written for busy research professionals who want relevant, practical content without the noise.

Monthly Newsletter

Read the Latest Issues 
Long-form, evidence-supported articles on specific procedures, anesthetic protocols, species considerations, and intraoperative management. Written for people who actually perform this work and want to go deeper.

Deep-Dive Articles

Browse Articles

Ready to Discuss Training?

Every team, model, and facility is different. Tell me about your team’s experience, your upcoming studies, and where you’d like to see more confidence or consistency, and I’ll recommend the modules and format that fit best.

Training can be delivered virtually, on-site, or as a hybrid, and custom modules can be built around your specific procedures.

Get Started