University of Hawai‘i receives laboratory animal care accreditation

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Vassilis L. Syrmos, (808) 956-5006
Vice President for Research and Innovation
Eric R. Matsunaga, (808) 956-5588
Director, Research and Administrative Operations, Office of the VP for Research and Innovation
Posted: Jul 13, 2016

Photo: UH Animal Resource Center Services
Photo: UH Animal Resource Center Services

HONOLULU -- The University of Hawai‘i (UH) is now recognized as a top research institution that puts care and use of animals used in its research and teaching as a top priority.

On July 1, 2016, UH was informed that it was awarded full accreditation by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International. In addition to assuring the public that research animals at UH receive the utmost care while contributing to experimental research and education, the accreditation enables UH researchers to qualify for grants that are only available to AAALAC-accredited institutions.

“I was pleased by the comments from the AAALAC accreditation team noting our well-written program description, strong administrative support, state-of-the-art equipment and especially – the positive spirt of our knowledgeable staff and principal investigators,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos, UH vice president for research and innovation.  “I would like to acknowledge Dr. Sylvia Kondo, her team at the Animal Resource Center and the UH Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee for their dedicated efforts in preparing the key accreditation application.”

Other institutions that have also earned AAALAC accreditation include the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The American Red Cross and the National Institutes of Health.

About AAALAC

AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs.  More than 950 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 41 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC's program, in addition to complying with the local, state and federal laws that regulate animal research.  http://www.aaalac.org/

About UH Research

Research conducted by the University of Hawai‘i (UH) impacts the quality of life in the islands and around the world. As the state’s major research university, and because of Hawai‘i’s tremendous geographic diversity, UH plays a prominent role in the state’s economic growth and development through its diverse and world-renowned research programs in astronomy, earth and ocean sciences, medicine and tropical agriculture. http://www.hawaii.edu/research/

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