Regulations, Rules and Training

The U-M has a long and distinguished history in laboratory animal care that started in the 1960s with its first ULAM director, Bennett J. Cohen. Cohen was one of several authors of the first edition of Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals — the most widely accepted reference on animal research issues. Revised and updated several times since the 1960s, it can be found in nearly every American research laboratory, including those at the U-M.

In the United States, animal research is strictly regulated by the Animal Welfare Act, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and by a Public Health Service policy governing research institutions that receive funding from the National Institutes of Health. Regular inspections by USDA officials are mandatory, and the government can and does shut down research programs if institutions don’t adhere to these standards.

The Animal Welfare Act requires research institutions to create committees that review and approve in advance all research protocols involving animals. At the U-M, it’s called the University Committee on Use and Care of Animals, or UCUCA.

Made up of scientists, veterinarians, administrators and community volunteers, the committee reviews hundreds of detailed applications from U-M scientists each year. UCUCA has the authority to modify an experimental protocol to ensure that animals are treated humanely. If necessary, a scientist’s research privileges can be terminated by UCUCA.

The committee also provides mandatory training for all U-M personnel who work with research animals. Classes cover the biology, handling and care of animals, as well as the basics of rodent surgery and procedures for euthanization.

In addition to caring for the animals and providing services to research investigators, ULAM has another important role — training the next generation of laboratory animal veterinarians and veterinary scientists.

“The United States is facing a severe shortage of veterinarians engaged in public practice involving research, teaching and public health,” Rush says. “There’s a critical need for more veterinarians trained to work in biomedical research, on food safety and animal disease control issues. There are only a handful of academic programs like ours that combine research, service and teaching in one program.”

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Myths, Realities, Benefit Beyond Measure