University of michigan
Progress Report
December 22, 2015

COLLABORATING IN SUSTAINABLE EXCELLENCE
The University of Michigan is fully committed to retaining and maintaining its full accreditation by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). Accreditation by AAALAC and other organizations is of critical importance - not only is it an affirmation of our commitment to the proper care and use of animals in our research, it is also key to our ability to win financial support for our research programs.

The Offices of the President, the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, and the Vice President for Research have charged an Animal Care and Use Program strategic team to develop and implement a plan to improve the underlying organizational structure and processes supporting sustained excellence in animal care and use. The guiding principle is that the highest animal welfare standards are central to excellence in research. 

The AAALAC Council will meet on January 25, 2016, to review the U-M's appeal of the AAALAC revocation. At this meeting, Dr. Jack Hu, U-M VP for Research, will present an action plan that directly addresses the organization's major issues with our program. As we progress toward this meeting, and beyond, this monthly Progress Report will keep our research community up to date on progress toward our goal of the total transformation of animal care and use at the U-M. Additionally, you are encouraged to attend a Town Hall on January 14 where Drs. Hu, Robert Dysko (Attending Veterinarian), and Daniel Myers (IACUC Chair), will discuss the university's strategic plan and upcoming near-term process changes.

Thank you for your collaboration as we work together to standardize and enhance our animal care program at the University of Michigan. 

RECENT ANIMAL CARE & USE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 

To better align our program with conventional standards, moving forward the UCUCA committee will now be known as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The UCUCA Office will become the Animal Care and Use Office (ACU Office).

Valerie Hill has been appointed Managing Director of Campus Animal Care. This new position was created by the U-M Office of Research in collaboration with the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) to ensure that all animals on campus for research and teaching are under one standard of care, regardless of the daily care provider.

Guidelines for aseptic technique in rodents and maintenance of rodent surgical records have been updated based on current veterinary standards of practice. Also, the requirement for sterile glove use during surgery has been strengthened. Faculty/staff are encouraged to attend the January 14 Town Hall to learn more details.

Inspections of areas where animals are used for procedures will be increased, with the IACUC visiting all areas where animals are used semi-annually (previously the IACUC visited only locations where animals were housed or where surgery was performed). All PI-managed housing areas will be visited quarterly. In addition, the controlled substance program is enhancing their program with inspections. These are being implemented to better support our investigators by insuring that appropriate protocol and animal welfare standards are in place in accordance with applicable regulations. Going forward, inspections in laboratory areas will require either the investigator or their laboratory manager be present in the laboratory at the time of the inspection. Questions about inspections? Contact the ACU Office at acuoffice@umich.edu.

ULAM training classes will transition to the new version of MLearning on February 1. Your training history and assignments will be carried over into the new system. ULAM training will not be accessible between January 22 - January 31. It is highly recommended you complete your assigned UCUCA-required training prior to January 22, however the Training Core will provide alternative training options on an as-needed basis. Questions? Contact the Training Core at 763-8039 or ulam-trainingcore@umich.edu.

If you have feedback or questions about these activities, please contact acuoffice@umich.edu.
Our mission in the Animal Care & Use Office is to support the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, fostering sustained excellence in animal care and use in scientific research and education under the philosophy that the highest standards of animal welfare are central to excellence in research.