Office of Animal Resources

The Office of Animal Resources is vital in providing scientific support for WUHS programs using animals in biomedical research. OAR has several key values that guide our team’s approach to animal welfare, service delivery, and community engagement:   

1. Ethical Standards: We believe in treating animals humanely and upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance and ethical guidelines, as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Public Health Service Policy.
2. Animal Health and Well-being: We ensure animals used in biomedical research are properly cared for by a team of well-trained and experienced veterinarians and staff. We maintain research animals in environments that aim to mitigate stress and disease, and we monitor animal health daily to promptly treat any injuries or illnesses.  
3. Research Integrity: We uphold the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and accountability in every stage of the research process.  We are dedicated to providing the gold standard of animal care. We are a liaison that upholds the institution’s commitment to ethical standards, ensuring that the public trusts that the research is conducted responsibly and rigorously.  
4. Training and Support: We are committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning by providing rigorous training and professional development opportunities that empower researchers and our animal care staff to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare and scientific integrity.  
5. Advocating for Animals: We serve as advocates for the animals used in biomedical research, ensuring that their needs are met and that research protocols are designed in ways that minimize harm and distress. We implement enrichment activities, encourage social interactions, and address any illness or welfare concerns to ensure both their physical and psychological needs are met.  We care for animals not just as subjects, but as living beings with their own intrinsic value.   

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
• Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Polices and Laws (includes PHS policy, 2011 “The Guide”) 

• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 

•  Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) home page 

• Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations 

• National Institute of Health – Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Labs 

• American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) 

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

• AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia: 2020 Edition