The animal care and use program at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has been recommended for continued accreditation following a comprehensive review by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International.
Accreditation by AAALAC is widely regarded as the gold standard for animal care and use programs.
The recommendation follows an extensive site visit in June that evaluated all aspects of the animal research program at UTMB, including veterinary care, facilities, safety programs, regulatory oversight, and research operations.
“This recognition goes beyond those directly involved with animals to include our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Occupational Health and Safety, Building Operations and Facilities, and senior leadership,” said Dr. Douglas Brining, executive director of the Animal Resource Center at UTMB. “It is an all-encompassing programmatic evaluation.”
Reviewers praised the program’s strong culture of collaboration, commitment to animal welfare, high standards of safety, and institutional support, issuing seven commendations that highlighted strengths across the organization.
Among the areas recognized were:
- Exceptional teamwork among researchers, animal care staff, safety professionals, facilities personnel, and administrators
- A dedicated and highly effective veterinary care program
- Well-maintained facilities
- Robust post-approval monitoring processes
- Strong institutional engagement in animal research oversight
“The renewal of our AAALAC International accreditation reflects the dedication and professionalism of our animal care staff, veterinary staff, research community, and Animal Welfare Office,” Brining said. “This recognition confirms the ongoing commitment of UTMB to providing the highest standards of animal welfare while enabling the critical research that advances both human and animal health.
“AAALAC accreditation demonstrates that UTMB not only meets regulatory requirements but continually strives for excellence in the responsible and ethical care and use of animals in biomedical research.”
The review team also commended UTMB for its safety culture and operational excellence within its high-containment research environments.
“Everything was running like clockwork,” reviewers noted during the exit briefing, citing the organization, infrastructure, facilities, and personnel supporting the institution’s ABSL-3 and ABSL-4 research programs.
The team also recognized the active involvement of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, as well as the ongoing investments by UTMB in facility improvements and animal welfare enhancements.
As part of the accreditation process, reviewers identified several opportunities for program enhancement, including recommendations related to documentation practices, laboratory safety procedures, and protocol oversight. Brining indicated that UTMB will review the recommendations and incorporate them into its ongoing quality improvement efforts.
The recommendation will now move through AAALAC’s standard review process before final action is taken by its council later this year.
At the conclusion of the visit, reviewers emphasized the overall strength of the program and the professionalism of the teams supporting it.
“For a program conducting the level of high-containment research performed at UTMB, this is a very fine program,” the review team noted. “UTMB has built a strong culture that supports both animal welfare and scientific excellence.”
AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs around the world.