Cedars-Sinai Animal Care and Use Program Recognized
International Organization Recognizes Strong Institutional Support, Staff Training and Facilities Maintenance
The Cedars-Sinai animal care and use program has been reaccredited for the maximum of three years by AAALAC International, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving animal welfare in science and education. Cedars-Sinai has consistently maintained this accreditation, which is awarded through a rigorous process, for decades.
In renewing the accreditation, AAALAC International commended Cedars-Sinai on strong institutional support of “an excellent program” and cited several of the program’s qualities:
- A knowledgeable and engaged Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which ensures that animal research complies with federal regulations
- Thorough training of Comparative Medicine staff, who are responsible for the care of animals and facilities, and who provide technical support to investigators
- Extremely clean and well-maintained animal facilities
- A strong veterinary care program with an experienced attending veterinarian
- A collegial team approach
“We are honored that AAALAC International continues to recognize Cedars-Sinai’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality in its animal care and use program,” said Jeffrey A. Golden, MD, executive vice dean of Research and Education and director of the Burns and Allen Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai. “This important achievement is made possible by concerted efforts across our institution.”
Participation in accreditation is voluntary. The process included an internal review, followed by an on-site assessment of the animal care and use program by AAALAC evaluators, during which they visited multiple labs and spoke with many lab members about their critical role in animal care at Cedars-Sinai.
“Maintaining this important accreditation requires collaboration among many teams,” said Ajay Sagar, associate director of Animal Research Programs Compliance. “The effort is led by the Department of Comparative Medicine, and also includes the IACUC and the offices of Research Compliance and Integrity, Plant Operations and Research Administration, as well as the Cedars-Sinai research community at large.”
With reaccreditation secured, program leaders continue to plan updates and improvements.
“We are working on new training programs for investigators, a centralized repository for training records, and improvements in managing animal breeding colonies,” said Sandra Duarte Vogel, DVM, executive director and attending veterinarian in the Department of Comparative Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “We will continue to support our institution’s research efforts by looking to the future.”
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