Message from Chancellor Gene Block Regarding Animal Research Compliance Issues
UCLA Office of the
Chancellor
Dear Colleagues:
Please share this message with your students, staff, post-docs and colleagues
involved in animal research.
All universities and investigators throughout the U.S. are required to comply
with research protocols and regulations related to the use of animals for
research. As an international leader in research, with more than $900 million
per year of extramural funding, UCLA must be exemplary in this regard.
As we move forward, I want to emphasize that the campus veterinarian has
complete authority over the care and treatment of animals used for research at
UCLA. When the veterinarian informs an investigator that an animal requires
attention, investigators must respond within the requested timeframe. Without a
response, the veterinarian will take whatever action is deemed necessary to
protect animal health and welfare. Failure to respond to the veterinarian
within the designated timeframe, however, constitutes serious noncompliance with
NIH and USDA regulations. Such noncompliance may lead to suspension of
investigators’ privileges to conduct research involving animals at UCLA, with
expenditure of NIH grant funds involving animals prohibited.
While UCLA’s campus compliance rate is above 99%, in some instances,
investigators have failed to respond to the campus veterinarian within the
designated time period. Therefore, I ask that you and all faculty and staff
involved in animal research once again review our policies and procedures for
animal research at
http://www.oprs.ucla.edu/animal/help/manual/default.asp. I also have asked
Vice Chancellor for Research Roberto Peccei to keep me apprised of any and all
compliance issues related to animal research. I have met with the Animal
Research Committee to convey my thanks for their excellent service and to
discuss how we can achieve the finest record of compliance in the nation.
Sincerely,
Gene D. Block
Chancellor
