Animal Care & Use Office
The Animal Care & Use Office (ACUO) supports the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) by fostering sustained excellence in animal care and use in scientific research and education, and promoting the philosophy that the highest animal welfare standards are necessary for impactful science.
This mission is achieved by working hand-in-hand with researchers and the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) to ensure that all projects adhere to University policies and federal laws that require a review of projects for the humane treatment and judicious use of vertebrate animals, including cephalopods.
Specifically, the ACUO assists with:
- Review of animal use applications and protocol modifications,
- Conducting animal facility and laboratory inspections,
- Providing training and guidance for animal care and use personnel, and
- Maintenance of a 24-hour hotline for reporting animal concerns
How the ACUO supports research:
Protocol Review
Supports the IACUC in the review and approval of Applications to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research, Testing, and Instruction; modifications to protocols, including protocol amendments; exemptions from review; and exceptions to existing standards, rules, and regulations concerning animal care and use (The Guide).
Facility Inspections
Conducts scheduled and unscheduled inspections of animal housing rooms, support spaces, facilities, surgical suites, and laboratories, as well as post-approval monitoring of randomly selected protocols.
Rules & Regulations
Maintains the University’s compliance with applicable federal, state, and University laws and guidelines for the care and use of research animals; provides investigators and animal care and use personnel with the appropriate training and guidance concerning these regulations; acts on behalf of the IACUC to investigate all reported animal welfare concerns.
Quality Assurance
Strives to ensure that every aspect of the Animal Care & Use Program, including research, can perform effectively and efficiently by identifying issues such as administrative and regulatory burden, duplicative processes, and misinformation.
Training
Provides investigators and personnel with the appropriate federal, state, and University guidelines pertaining to the species used and type of research, testing, or instruction being utilized.
Questions?
For more information, please contact the ACUO at acuoffice@umich.edu or (734) 763-8028. A list of ACUO contacts is also available in the Personnel Directory.