The University of Iowa will be hosting a site visit team from AAALAC International this coming fall as part of the reaccreditation of the animal care and use program. The University program has been accredited by AAALAC International since 1994. So, what exactly is AAALAC International?
AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs.
More than 1,000 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 49 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC's program, in addition to complying with the local, state and federal laws that regulate animal research.
AAALAC International accredits active animal care and use programs when they have been found to meet or exceed regulatory and professional standards. An active animal care and use program includes: animals; facilities; equipment; professional, technical, and administrative support; and policies and programs for institutional responsibilities, animal husbandry and veterinary care.
AAALAC International accreditation exemplifies a comprehensive, institutionally supported program with a commitment to continuous improvement, humane and ethical animal care resulting in high quality animal welfare, and scientific validity. AAALAC’s triennial (every three years) peer review ensures the institution is remaining diligent, staying current with regulatory requirements and professional standards, evolving industry expectations, and maintaining a high level of excellence. In this manner, accreditation validates an institution’s high standards of research animal welfare for its diverse stakeholders.
AAALAC International is committed to the safety and health of all personnel involved with site visits and follows the CDC recommendations for preventing COVID-19 infection. Site visit teams work with the accredited program personnel to schedule the various components of the site visit in a safe manner. This can include the use of videoconferencing for Program Description review and for meeting with the IACUC, as well as interactions with other key institutional representatives. The use of secure electronic document sharing can be arranged to allow a thorough review of policies and records and SOPs in a socially distant manner. These hybrid site visits allow for a thorough review of the animal care and use program in a safe manner during the current pandemic.