UGA’s Research Animal Resources Program has received full accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International, the organization that grants accreditation to institutions that use animals in research.
UGA officials were notified last month in a letter from the AAALAC that commends UGA for “providing and maintaining a high quality program of laboratory animal care and use.”
Accreditation by AAALAC, a voluntary program, is the gold standard for quality of animal care and use in research. Accredited institutions must meet or exceed rigorous standards to ensure the high-quality care and welfare of research animals. Programs are reviewed every three years.
The letter specifically commended the administration’s strong support and funding provided for the centralized animal program and facilities; and the generally excellent animal health status, level of animal care, facility maintenance, and sanitation in animal facilities. The letter praised animal care and use personnel and cited the Aquatic Biotechnology and Ecology Laboratory fish facilities, as well as medical records for the blood donor horses, as models for other programs.