Research, instruction and testing activities that involve vertebrate animals are regulated by federal, state, local and institution regulations and policies.  Approximately 85% of the animals used for research are laboratory mice and rats (National Association for Biomedical Research).  Consequently, common and best practices for reviewing and performing activities involving these species and other traditional laboratory animals have been established due to ongoing repetition among institutions. 

     Based on regulatory definitions, the IACUC community defines animal housing facilities as any location where animals are maintained for periods exceeding 24 hours (for PHS covered species), and 12 hours for USDA covered species.  Once a facility is defined as housing, there are specific regulatory expectations that need to be satisfied.  While the AWARs housing expectations focus primarily on dogs, cats and non-humane primates, the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) covers all species supported with PHS funds.

     Chapter 5 of the Guide is dedicated to the physical plant of the animal housing facilities, and Chapter 4 the environment, housing and related management.  Each of these chapters include many provisions that should be satisfied in order to qualify an area as housing.  For example, the Guide indicates, “Building materials for animal facilities should be selected to facilitate efficient and hygienic operation.”

     The problem is at times animals may need to be maintained in a PIs lab to satisfy the scientific aims of the study.  Consequently, what does the IACUC how can the IACUC facilitate this process if the laboratory does not meet Guide standards?  When would using a laboratory for housing be considered a Guide departure?  Could performance standards be applied?

     During this webinar, we will explore and identify processes that can be used to facilitate animal housing in non-traditional areas to ensure the PI can satisfy the scientific aims of the research.  In addition, we will identify when such housing may be considered a departure from the Guide.         

Meeting Co-Facilitators and Presenters

Bill Greer, BS:  received his Bachelor’s in Microbiology from Penn State University in 1985.  He currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan.  His previous roles included Associate Director for Research Compliance at the Pennsylvania State University, and research technician, production manager and Safety Officer at Intervet, State College, PA (Formally Tri Bio Laboratories).  In 2005, he organized and held the first IACUC Administrators’ Best Practices Meeting, which establish a venue for administrators meet informally and discuss programmatic concerns.  He continues to facilitate at least three annual Best Practice meetings.  In 2007, he initiated the process of establishing the IACUC Administrators Association (IAA), which is a professional organization of IACUC Administrators.  In 2010, he chaired the founding committee for the non-profit education based IAA organization.  He now serves as the president and chair of the IAA board of directors.  Since 2007, Bill has served as ad hoc specialist to AAALAC Council where he participates in institutional program reviews, assessments, and status determinations.  He served as a member of the Council of Certified Professional IACUC Administrators (CCPIA).  He continues to facilitate training activities at multiple venues including PRIM&R, AALAS, BTAA, C3, and both IACUC and IBC Administrators Best Practice Meetings.

Ron E. Banks, DVM:  received his veterinary degree from Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and retired a Colonel from the United States Army Veterinary Corps.  After postings as the Director, Center for Comparative Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado; and Director, Office of Animal Welfare Assurance at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; he currently serves as the Director, Division of Comparative Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Along his professional journey he has contributed as Council Member on AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation; Chairman of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee; Board Member for the IACUC Administrator’s Association; and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.  Dr. Banks is board certified with the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine; the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine; and he is a Charter Diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare.

Nicole Lukovsky-Akhsanov, DVM, MPH, DACLAM: joined OLAW’s Division of Assurances and additionally provides support to the Division of Compliance Oversight in 2019.  Prior to joining OLAW, Dr. Lukovsky-Akhsanov completed her laboratory animal medicine residency at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and subsequently served as Assistant Director, Office of Animal Welfare, at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She received her DVM from the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine and MPH in Epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine

Programs Support

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) and related activities are supported through OLAW and IAA memberships.  Membership fees through ongoing involvement from the community allow the IAA to keep activities fees at a minimum.  We ask that you please become a new member, or maintain your membership status (memberships are renewed annually).  If you are a current member of the IAA, you are free to attend webinars at no charge.  Individuals that are non-members or those with expired memberships will be asked to provide $30 in support for each webinar they attend.

The webinar time is Eastern Standard Time