Concerns Regarding Animal Care or Treatment
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is strongly committed to the humane care and treatment of all animals used for research and teaching. Our animal care and use program is governed by Federal Guidelines for the care and use of animals. The Animal Care and Use Committee oversees the entire program and reviews and approves all animal related studies. Since 1993, the UTHSC animal care and use program has been accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), the highest endorsement for excellence. If you observe or have knowledge of activities that you believe constitute inappropriate animal care or use, you are encouraged to report these activities so that they can be investigated. UTHSC has policies and procedures in place in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, NIH and PHS guidelines to investigate and remediate any animal care or use issues. The Animal Welfare Act specifically states that:
“No facility employee, committee member, or laboratory personnel shall be subject to any reprisal for reporting violations of any regulation or standards under the Act”
The best way to address an animal care or use concern is directly. Sometimes unfamiliar research activities may be misinterpreted as painful or distressful. Frank discussion may clear up misunderstandings. If you do not wish to speak to the people involved directly (investigator, technicians, students), please call any of the following numbers to discuss your concerns. The identity of those reporting concerns remains confidential, and rests with either the Director, LACU, or with the Institutional Animal Care and Use office.
Strict confidentiality will be maintained to the extent allowable by law. UTHSC prohibits retaliation against any employee who makes a good faith report of known or suspected noncompliance in the care and use of animals.
There are several ways to report your concerns. Please choose one of the following:
- Contact the Institutional Animal Care and Use Office (IACU) at (901) 448-3904.
- Contact the Director, Laboratory Animal Care and Use (LACU) at (901) 448-5656.
- Via the anonymous web base portal at https://cody.uthsc.edu/animal-welfare-concerns/. To the extent that it is possible, the university will preserve your anonymity.
UTHSC Animal Care and Use Committee - July 2017