Animal Care & Use Office

Zebrafish tanks in animal care facilityThe Animal Care & Use Office (ACUO) supports the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) by fostering sustained excellence in animal care and use in scientific research and education, and promoting the philosophy that the highest animal welfare standards are necessary for impactful science.

This mission is achieved by working hand-in-hand with researchers and the IACUC to ensure that all projects adhere to University policies and federal laws that require a review of projects for the humane treatment and judicious use of vertebrate animals.

Specifically, the ACUO assists with:

  • Review of animal use applications and protocol modifications,
  • Conducting animal facility and laboratory inspections,
  • Providing training and guidance for animal care and use personnel, and
  • Maintenance of a 24-hour hotline for reporting animal concerns

How the ACUO Supports Research

animal health checklist iconProtocol Review: Supports the IACUC in the review and approval of Applications to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research, Testing, and Instruction; modifications to protocols, including protocol amendments; exemptions from review; and exceptions to existing standards, rules, and regulations concerning animal care and use.

 

animal facility inspections iconInspections: Conducts scheduled and unscheduled inspections of animal housing and use rooms, facilities, and laboratories, as well as post-approval monitoring of randomly selected protocols.

 

blue stack of books iconRules & Regulations: Maintains the University’s compliance with applicable federal, state, and University laws and guidelines for the care and use of research animals; provides investigators and animal care and use personnel with the appropriate training and guidance concerning these regulations; acts on behalf of the IACUC to investigate all reported animal welfare concerns.

 

Blue quality assurance open dialogue iconQuality Assurance: Strives to ensure that every aspect of the Animal Care & Use Program, including research, can perform effectively and efficiently by identifying issues such as administrative and regulatory burden, duplicative processes, and misinformation.

 

blue person iconTraining: Provides investigators and personnel with the appropriate federal, state, and University guidelines pertaining to the species used and type of research, testing, or instruction being utilized.

Questions?

For more information, please contact the ACUO at acuoffice@umich.edu or (734) 763-8028. A list of ACUO contacts is also available in the Personnel Directory.