Our Mission

The Animal Care & Use Program supports the University of Michigan community in its pursuit of impactful science to benefit both human and animal health by fostering a culture of excellence and compassion, responsible research conduct, and a shared commitment to upholding the highest animal welfare standards in all aspects of research and instruction.

A Message from Our Leadership

For decades, laboratory animals have been essential to almost every major advancement in human and animal medicine. The University of Michigan (U-M) community is committed to the highest standards of excellent and humane care in the use of these animals in our research and instruction, and we believe that this commitment is central to the rigor and impact of our work.

Our approach goes beyond strict adherence to all required guidelines. In addition, we embrace the principles known as “the three Rs”: reducing the number of animals used to the minimum required for the study, replacing animals with less sentient or non-animal models whenever possible, and refining all practices to provide the best animal welfare possible.

Our Program comprises three units that support the entire U-M community and ensure our collective commitment to the welfare of all animals under our care:

Through projects and training activities that span a wide variety of fields, including medicine, dentistry, natural resources and the environment, engineering, public health, and kinesiology, scientific and medical knowledge developed through animal research has saved countless lives and improved health outcomes for both humans and animals.

Some examples of life-changing research projects and teaching programs at the University of Michigan are highlighted in the stories below.

Regards,

William King, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
Associate Vice President for Research – Animal Care and Use Program
Attending Veterinarian
Executive Director, Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine
Clinical Professor of Laboratory Animal Medicine

William Greer, BS, CPIA, LAT, CM
Assistant Vice President for Research – Animal Program Compliance Oversight
Director, Animal Care & Use Office

Daniel D. Myers, DVM, MPH, DACLAM
Professor of Surgery
Chair, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee

Our Impact

Treatment with Norrin Helped Maintain Healthy Blood Vessels, Preserved Vision in Diabetic Rats

Nov 04 2026

Targeting cellular pathways controlled by norrin can be used as a therapeutic strategy to prevent vision loss in patients with diabetes. Over 100 million people in the U.S. are affected by diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. The condition is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the …

A Metabolic “Switch” that Could Help Reset Scar-Producing Cells in Scleroderma

Oct 27 2026

Blocking the enzyme NNMT points toward a new approach to treating fibrosis. Researchers at University of Michigan Health and collaborating institutions have identified a metabolic enzyme that may offer a fundamentally new way to attack one of the most difficult-to-treat features of systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma: progressive and potentially life threatening tissue scarring. Despite decades …

Fei Wen, a U-M professor of chemical engineering, inspects a yeast culture growing inside a glass vial with Isabel Vanderzee, a doctoral student in immunology.

New Flu Vaccine Protects Mice Against Multiple Strains

Oct 06 2026

Studies in mice suggest a new vaccine, made using baker’s yeast, could work with fewer booster shots and without predicting the dominant flu strains each season. A new, nanoparticle vaccine could one day grant patients immunity to the flu with fewer trips to the doctor and without health officials correctly guessing which flu strains will …

Questions?

As a public institution and an accredited site for animal use, we are open to inquiries, reports of concern, or other communications from within and beyond the U-M. Questions about the care and use of laboratory animals at the University of Michigan should be directed to the Animal Care & Use Office at [email protected].

If you are a member of the media, or have a media inquiry, please email [email protected] or call the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication at (734) 764-2220 and your question will be routed to the appropriate media team member.