Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals - Office of ...

ANIMAL CARE ANd USE PROGRAM 15ers and related equipment) to fulfill this responsibility. Detailed informationon the role and function of the IACUC is provided later in this chapter.CollaborationsInterinstitutional collaboration has the potential to create ambiguitiesabout responsibility for animal care and use. In cases of such collaborationinvolving animal use (beyond animal transport), the participating institutionsshould have a formal written understanding (e.g., a contract, memorandumof understanding, or agreement) that addresses the responsibility for offsiteanimal care and use, animal ownership, and IACUC review and oversight(AAALAC 2003). In addition, IACUCs from the participating institutions maychoose to review protocols for the work being conducted.Training and EducationPersonnel ManagementAll personnel involved with the care and use of animals must be adequatelyeducated, trained, and/or qualified in basic principles of laboratoryanimal science to help ensure high-quality science and animal well-being.The number and qualifications of personnel required to conduct and supporta Program depend on several factors, including the type and size ofthe institution, the administrative structure for providing adequate animalcare, the characteristics of the physical plant, the number and species ofanimals maintained, and the nature of the research, testing, teaching, andproduction activities. Institutions are responsible for providing appropriateresources to support personnel training (Anderson 2007), and the IACUCis responsible for providing oversight and for evaluating the effectivenessof the training program (Foshay and Tinkey 2007). All Program personneltraining should be documented.Veterinary and Other Professional Staff Veterinarians providing clinicaland/or Program oversight and support must have the experience, training,and expertise necessary to appropriately evaluate the health and wellbeingof the species used in the context of the animal use at the institution.Veterinarians providing broad Program direction should be trained orhave relevant experience in laboratory animal facility administration andmanagement. Depending on the scope of the Program, professionals withexpertise in other specific areas may be needed—in, for example, facilitydesign and renovation, human resource management, pathology of laboratoryanimals, comparative genomics, facility and equipment maintenance,diagnostic laboratory operations, and behavioral management. Laboratory