University of Virginia Health System

 The mission of the Center for Comparative Medicine is to support biomedical research and teaching that utilizes laboratory animals.

The mission of the Center for Comparative Medicine is to support biomedical research and teaching that utilizes laboratory animals. The Center does this in a manner which promotes the policies set by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) whose charge is to oversee compliance by personnel at the University of Virginia with federal regulations and guidelines. Federal guidelines have been established which promote the humane care and use of laboratory animals in research and teaching. These regulations are concerned in part with the following areas:

• sanitary and species appropriate husbandry practices,
• daily health observations
• disease prevention
• veterinary care
• appropriate analgesia and anesthesia for procedures which cause more than momentary pain or discomfort
• training of research staff in regulations and biomethodologies
• IACUC review of proposed activities involving laboratory animals in research and teaching.

The University is accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC). AAALAC is an independent accreditation body which uses the standards outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals [ILAR, NAS, 1996] and the Animal Welfare Act (CFR 9) as amended (P. L. 94-279) as minimum criteria in evaluating research programs which use laboratory animals. AAALAC accreditation is recognized by research funding agencies as identifying national research institutions which have an acceptable level of standards in the operating procedures and practices of their laboratory animal program.

The use of laboratory animals constitutes a privilege which the American public has entrusted to the scientific community. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each investigator and every member of his or her staff to fulfill all moral, ethical, and legal responsibilities inherent in using laboratory animals in research and teaching.

The Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (VPRGS), Dr. R. Ariel Gomez, is the Institutional Official responsible for the animal care and use program. His office files an assurance of compliance with the Office of Protection from Research Risk at the NIH, appoints the chairperson and members of the IACUC, and is responsible for all University wide issues pertaining to animal care and use. The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) is a component of the Office of the VPGRS that is directly responsible for the management and oversight of the vivaria at the University. The Director of CCM, Dr. Sanford H. Feldman reports directly to Dr. Gomez and to the IACUC regarding the University's animal husbandry and veterinary care components of the animal care and use program. The Life Sciences (Gilmer) vivarium is populated by research animals belonging to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Jeffery Wimsatt provides administrative and veterinary oversight of this College of Arts and Sciences facility and Ms. Amy O'Coin functions as the vivarium facility manager.

The CCM program is executed by a coordinated effort between Dr. Feldman, the Associate Director, Dr. Matthew Kessler,and the supervisors of the Medical Center vivaria, and the CCM administrative staff.

• All facility management and administrative issues should be referred to the Director.

Questions and concerns regarding animal health should be referred to one of the veterinary technicians, Ms. Gina Wimer ,Ms. Linda McVay, or one of the veterinarians, Drs. Feldman, Kessler and/or Wimsatt.

Special animal husbandry requirements regarding feed, bedding, cage changing schedules, light cycles, temperature or humidity should be referred to either the the specific vivarium  supervisor.

The University requires that an animal research protocol be submitted for review and approval by the IACUC before any investigator purchases/obtains and begins research involving vertebrate species of animal. The IACUC office is administered by Ms. Sarah Hudson and Ms. Ruby Harris. The IACUC office serves to: assist investigators in completing the appropriate animal research proposal forms, sends out annual review of animal research protocol notices, assures participation in the occupational health and safety program for personnel interacting with laboratory animals, schedules the meetings and compiles the minutes of the IACUC meetings, and schedules the semi-annual inspection of animal facilities and the animal care and use program.

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CCM has over 30,000 square feet of facilities designed for housing laboratory animals. Specialized rodent housing including sterile barrier caging is provided in specific areas of the Jordan Hall , MR-4,  MR-5, Old Medical School, and Aurbach Bldg. vivaria. Animal biosafety level 2 facilities are available for research involving infectious agents and viral gene therapy vectors as are facilities for administration of radionuclides and methods of approved disposal. The animal feed and bedding is currently provided under a contract with Harlan Teklad. Specialty diets are available and requests should be directed to the vivarium area supervisor.

Surgical facilities are available in Jordan, and MR-4. Procedures should be scheduled with Ms. Gina Wimer. Necropsy rooms are available at Jordan Hall and MR-4 and their use should be scheduled with the area supervisor. All vivaria have facilities for carcass disposal which can be found by direction from the vivarium supervisor or animal care staff. Carcasses and tissues  not considered biohazards are to be sealed in green leakproof bags for appropriate disposal. All laboratory animals are to be housed in one of the vivaria unless scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC. Areas where laboratory animals are housed outside the vivaria are subject to the same animal husbandry standards as the vivaria and will be inspected by the IACUC during the semi-annual review of program and facilities. Vivarium space is generally near full occupancy so consult the Director of CCM or the supervisory staff when contemplating a new project which requires substantial animal housing or large animal species.