Duke University recognizes and affirms the essential role that research and education involving animals has in the advancement of biological and medical knowledge. Further, Duke University acknowledges that animals used in biomedical research and education should receive the best possible care and treatment.
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
The Duke Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a Committee of scientists, nonscientists, veterinarians, and community members. It has the responsibility of overseeing and routinely evaluating the Duke Animal Care and Use Program. This is achieved through the evaluation of the care, treatment, housing, and use of animals that are under the Duke Animal Care and Use Program. In addition, the IACUC helps certify compliance with regulatory and oversight standards.
The Office of Animal Welfare Assurance (OAWA) is the administrative unit that helps the IACUC fulfill its institutional, regulatory, and oversight responsibilities. In addition, OAWA provides support for use of controlled substances in animal and in-vitro research. OAWA provides customer service to all participants of the Duke Animal Care and Use Program.
The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources and the Attending Veterinarian
Duke University's Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) is a team of highly trained individuals dedicated to the humane care and use of research animals. DLAR is committed to maintaining the highest quality laboratory animal programs and serves as a resource center for investigators. DLAR strives to provide the highest standard of care, resulting in the best possible quality of life for laboratory animals.
Mission Statement: The mission statement serves as an overall business philosophy and template for generating a strategic vision to accomplish this endeavor.
In that regard, five goals are set forth as the drivers for DLAR:
- Provide quality care for all laboratory animals used at Duke University.
- Serve as a resource center for investigators and administrators on all issues related to laboratory animals.
- Provide quality animal research models for investigators.
- Maintain compliance, in conjunction with Duke's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, with all regulatory and accreditation requirements.
- Position Duke University as a leader in laboratory animal science and management.
Duke University's Animal Care and Use program is fully accredited by AAALAC International. Duke is also registered as a research facility with the US Department of Agriculture in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and all amendments and holds a Category 1 Assurance with the Public Health Service (through the NIH's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare).