U-M Receives Full AAALAC Accreditation

A MESSAGE FROM THE ANIMAL CARE & USE PROGRAM LEADERSHIP TEAM

We are pleased to announce that the University of Michigan has received full continued accreditation from AAALAC International. In the notification letter that we received on November 30, the AAALAC Council commended staff at all levels of our institution for the tremendous amount of commitment, knowledge, pride, and enthusiasm that was demonstrated throughout our AAALAC Site Visit in mid-August.

The success of this visit and our subsequent full accreditation would not have been possible without the thoughtful attention that each and every one of you has given to promoting a culture of shared responsibility for excellence in animal care and use, and in research, here at the University of Michigan.

It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on our research operations and has forced us all to adapt to rapidly-changing circumstances. Despite these many challenges, we are grateful for the amount of energy that our entire community invested in the AAALAC Site Visit as an opportunity to evaluate and assess how our individual and collective practices can be further refined in service to the animals entrusted to our care.

Now more than ever, we must all commit to maintaining the momentum we have built toward an overall state of readiness and compliance, where the values of professional and ethical conduct, research integrity, and achieving the highest animal welfare standards continue to guide and inform every aspect of our work.

As members of one of the world’s leading research universities, this is the level of sustained excellence that our peers, collaborators, funding agencies, and we must expect from ourselves and one another when afforded the privilege of working with animals in research.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support; you are integral to the shared success of our Animal Care & Use Program and to the compassionate, humane care and use of animals.