To address the growing educational needs and interests of the U-M research community, the Animal Care & Use Program is pleased to announce the launch of a new seminar series – Building a Culture of Care: Essentials for Laboratory Animal Research. 
The series will be held over the summer on the second Wednesday of each month (June, July, and August) from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
Each session will feature speakers from across the U-M Animal Care & Use Program covering a variety of topics pertaining to the responsible and humane use of animals in research.
Sessions are open to members of the U-M research community, and will occur at the North Campus Research Complex with an option to join a facilitated livestream on the medical campus. Prior registration is appreciated, but not required. Light refreshments will also be served.
Seminar Series Information
The rules and regulations that govern the responsible use of animals in research originated over 100 years ago and continue to evolve with advances in modern medicine and our understanding of animals’ lived experiences. This regulatory framework is built upon a series of standards set forth by regulatory bodies and accreditation organizations to ensure humane animal care within the laboratory environment.
These requirements – which extend to any individual who works with animals in research or instruction on behalf of the university – inform all aspects of animal care and use operations, including programmatic oversight, training, veterinary care, and the reporting and handling of incidents of research non-compliance.
Led by Noel Ramsey, MS, CPIA, LVT, LATG, Assistant Director – Research Compliance, Animal Care & Use Office, this session will:
- Provide a brief history of animal welfare rules and regulations in the United States,
- Outline how the university translates these standards into practice, and
- Examine the individual and institutional implications of research non-compliance.
All members of the U-M animal care and use community can actively participate in cultivating a safe, secure, and compliant research environment.
Though contributions may vary by role (e.g., student, faculty staff, technician, administrator), there are several best practices that any individual can employ to help build their compliance confidence.
During this session, members of the Animal Care & Use Office’s Quality Assurance Team will:
- Identify ways to reduce administrative burden and improve operating efficiencies across the Animal Care & Use Program,
- Discuss how common issues in the research environment can be prevented and resolved, and
- Offer guidance, tools, and resources to empower individuals from across the U-M research enterprise with compliance knowledge and know-how.
As members of the biomedical research community, we have an inherent appreciation for the many contributions that laboratory animals have made to the advancement of science and medicine.
However, when so much of our work takes place in the laboratory or the vivarium, it can be easy to lose sight of the much larger narrative landscape in which we operate. Conversations about laboratory animals can be very complex and emotional, especially for individuals who work outside of research.
In this session, Amy Puffenberger, MAM, Strategic Communications Manager for the Animal Care & Use Program, will:
- Review recent and emerging trends in science-based communications for general audiences,
- Explore lessons learned through various case study scenarios, and
- Share guidance and best practices for communicating about the responsible use of animals in research.
Complete session details, including location information, can be found on the seminar series’ registration page using valid U-M login credentials.
All attendees will be provided with a continuing education certificate for their participation in one or more of the sessions.
Questions?
Questions about the new Building a Culture of Care: Essentials for Laboratory Animal Research seminar series should be directed to the Animal Care & Use Office at [email protected].
Links marked with a lock icon can only be accessed using valid U-M login credentials.