Office of ResearchGuidelines and PoliciesAnimal Care and Safety

Animal Care and Safety

Washington State University (WSU) strives to make discoveries that save and improve the lives of animals and humans alike, as well as safeguard the environment. The research vital to these discoveries sometimes involves animals.

Any animal-based research comes with a large responsibility to provide animals with the highest level of ethical and humane care. WSU takes that responsibility very seriously and is committed to openly sharing information about its research involving animals and standards of animal care.

All animal research at WSU is overseen by two divisions of the Office of Research:

  • Office of Campus Veterinarian (OCV) oversees the health and welfare of animals used at WSU and administers high-level care to animals across the WSU system. OCV provides a complete range of services including veterinary care, vivarium services, training and research, and safety support while assuring compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines for laboratory animal care.
  • Office of Research Assurances (ORA) supports and promotes safe, secure, and ethical research practices at WSU. It helps manage the University’s research compliance and integrity programs and administers the Presidential committees that oversee research with animals, biological agents, humans, and radiation — in particular, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

Why animals at WSU?

Research

Animal research yields breakthroughs that benefit us all. Discoveries such as life-saving treatment for diabetes, life support for premature babies, vaccines to prevent deadly and crippling diseases, and much more would not have been possible without animal research. WSU research findings contribute to a better understanding of health problems in animals and humans. They have profoundly improved the quality and effectiveness of veterinary care to help our animal friends live longer, healthier lives.

Teaching

Animals can be critical for teaching critical skills to students. Educators at WSU also involve animals in lessons about animal care and in programs that foster compassion. For example, undergraduates in animal sciences learn hands-on with a student-managed herd of dairy cows. Veterinary students at WSU’s veterinary medicine program also utilize animals to learn life-saving skills that benefit our pets.

Oversight and compliance

All WSU research involving animals adheres to the stringent requirements of federal law.

The WSU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) carefully reviews all animal research proposals before the studies begin to evaluate animal welfare and compliance with federal regulations and university policies. It has the authority to approve new animal research projects as well as stop a research project if the care or involvement of animals fails to comply with the approved protocol, regulations or IACUC policies. Additional information about IACUC can be viewed on the IACUC website.

WSU animal care programs have earned accreditation from AAALAC International, a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science. AAALAC recognizes WSU among organizations worldwide that uphold global standards of exceptional animal care and ethics.

Reducing animals in research and teaching

When WSU considers proposals for involving animals in research and teaching, it follows principles that the scientific community worldwide knows as the “3 Rs”:

  • Replace animals with other options
  • Reduce the number of animals involved
  • Refine tests to minimize any distress

WSU only involves animals in research when no other method of study would yield the scientific knowledge needed to address serious health and environmental problems. Whenever possible, WSU research employs alternatives to animals, such as cell cultures, tissue studies, and computer models.

In the future, biological discoveries and technological advances may ultimately eliminate the need for animal research. WSU looks forward to that time.

Animal Welfare Concern

If you suspect research/teaching animal misuse or noncompliance with federal regulations/campus policies, please report to: