Report Animal Concerns

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Drugs Facilities Guidelines Husbandry IACUC Policies Safety

Lessons Learned from Fall 2024 Semi-Annual Facility Inspections

The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in late September, which included piloting a new one-week condensed schedule. This revised format more closely aligns IACUC processes with those used by external oversight bodies (e.g., AAALAC and the United States Department of Agriculture) and aims to reduce ...
Multi-colored graph showing common deficiency areas identified during Fall 2024 semi-annual facility inspections

Facilities Policies Safety

Sharps Waste Disposal Extended to 18 Months

Earlier this year, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a new law into legislation which extends the timeline for disposal of sharps containers. Previously, state law mandated that sharps containers must be shipped for disposal within 90 days of the Accumulation Start Date, regardless of whether the container had been fully utilized. State law now allows ...

Drugs Guidelines Policies

Additional Tools to Support the Responsible Use of Drugs, Substances, and Other Agents in Animal Studies

The Animal Care & Use Program has created three new tools to assist the U-M research community with navigating the many nuanced requirements for the proper administration and use of medical materials, drugs, agents, and other substances in animal studies: These tools are designed to complement existing resources such as the Quick Reference Sheet: Monitoring ...
Navigating the proper use of substances and agents with animals decision tree icon

Facilities Guidelines Husbandry IACUC Policies Safety

Lessons Learned from Fall 2023 Semi-Annual Facility Inspections

The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in mid-September. These inspections are one of the most important tools we have for routinely assessing programmatic strengths and identifying areas for individual and collective improvement(s) in service to the animals entrusted to our care. Through this lens of ...
Multi-colored graph showing common deficiency areas identified during Fall 2023 semi-annual IACUC facility inspections

Controlled Substances Drugs Guidelines IACUC Policies

Revised Policies, Guidelines Clarify Expectations for the Use of Expired Drugs and Medical Materials in Animals

We know that you rely on us – your Animal Care & Use Program partners – to provide the tools and resources necessary for safeguarding animal welfare while conducting sound scientific research. While it is clear that the administration and/or use of expired drugs and other substances can endanger animal health and compromise the validity ...
Picture of veterinary drugs and materials clearly labeled with expiration dates

Facilities Policies Safety

Proper PPE: What’s In and What’s Out?

To protect the health and safety of research personnel, the animals entrusted to our care, and the larger U-M research community, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required when working in and around animal facilities. Required PPE for individual rooms and circumstances is based on an Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) risk assessment that takes into ...
Icon of doors opening into facility with room entry sign

IACUC Policies

Review Processes for Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns

Ensuring animal welfare and maintaining programmatic compliance is a shared responsibility, and the university depends on everyone to do their part. As the new academic year rapidly approaches and we welcome new faculty, students, and staff to campus, we ask that all individuals whose work involves animals review – and be familiar with – the ...
Red Reporting & Investigating Animal Welfare Concerns button with cursor

Facilities Guidelines Husbandry IACUC Policies Safety

Lessons Learned from Winter 2023 Semi-Annual Facility Inspections

The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in mid-March. These inspections are one of the most important tools we have for routinely assessing programmatic strengths and identifying areas for individual and collective improvement(s) in service to the animals entrusted to our care. Through this lens of ...
Multi-colored graph showing common deficiency areas identified during Winter 2023 semi-annual IACUC facility inspections

Controlled Substances Drugs Guidelines IACUC Policies

New Resources to Promote Responsible Use of Drugs and Other Medical Materials

The appropriate use of drugs and other medical materials – fluids, vehicles, biologics, and drugs – is critical for protecting animal welfare, ensuring the validity of your results, and avoiding incidents of non-compliance. Given the seriousness of these concerns, recent updates to several programmatic documents, and an analysis of areas identified for continued refinement through ...
NEW banner with medical materials and drugs icons

Controlled Substances Drugs Guidelines Policies

GOLD Day Coming this May

The administration and/or use of expired drugs and other substances not only endangers animal welfare but could also compromise the validity of your results. Given the seriousness of these concerns and the potential for resulting non-compliance, the Animal Care & Use Program is announcing the first annual GOLD Day. Happening on Friday, May 5, 2023, ...
GOLD Day on May 5, 2023 icon