Winter/Spring 2012 Aesculapian Magazine - University of Georgia ...

CollegeNews
UGA research animal resources program receives AAALAC
accreditation
The University of Georgia research animal resources program has received full accreditation
by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International
(AAALAC), the organization that grants accreditation to institutions that use animals in
research.
Dr. Chris King, UGA assistant vice president for research and director of the animal care
and use program, said that university officials were notified in early March in a letter from
AAALAC that commended UGA for “…providing and maintaining a high quality program of
laboratory animal care and use.”
Accreditation by AAALAC, a voluntary program, is the gold standard for quality of animal
care and use in research. Accredited institutions must meet or exceed rigorous standards
to ensure the high-quality care and welfare of research animals. More than 800 companies,
universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 34 countries
have earned accreditation from the private, nonprofit organization. UGA’s program was first
accredited by AAALAC in 2002.
“Ensuring the humane and appropriate use of animals in meeting our research and
instructional missions is vital to high quality science and securing the trust of all of our
stakeholders,” said King.
College hosts first Communications Summit for students
The College of
Veterinary Medicine
held its first
communications
summit on April 4,
2011. Sponsored by
the Brenda Horton
Trust Fund, the
summit focused
on the importance
of communication
skills for veterinary
students and practicing
veterinarians.
The CVM organized
the summit
Photo by Sue Myers Smith
in conjunction with
the Bayer Animal Health Communication Project, an Institute for Healthcare Communication
(IHC) initiative to provide better communication training to veterinary students and professionals
around the world. Pictured above from left to right are Alec Davern (DVM ’13); Carly Turner
(DVM ’13); Jake Tripp (DVM ’13); Brenda Horton; and Shaylin Duncan (DVM ’13).
CVM faculty to serve
on AAALAC Council
Edwards and King
Two CVM faculty members,
Drs. Gaylen Edwards and Chris
King, have been chosen to serve
on the Council of Accreditation for
AAALAC.
An elite group of some of the
best animal care and use professionals
and researchers from
around the globe, the council is
charged with reviewing institutional
programs for all animals used
in research, teaching or testing –
from traditional laboratory animals,
farm animals and wildlife to aquatic
animals and invertebrate species.
As council members, Edwards
and King will lead AAALAC site
visits to universities, government
facilities, pharmaceutical companies
and hospitals.
Edwards is a professor and
head of the CVM’s department of
physiology and pharmacology. King
is the UGA assistant vice president
for research, directs UGA’s animal
care and use program, and teaches
laboratory animal medicine.
Aesculapian Winter/Spring 2012 3