First, the IACUC Office will offer required training, occupational health enrollment, creation and completion of your Animal Study Protocol, personnel additions, and other amendments.
Second, after protocol approvals have been obtained by the IACUC, CCM will provide facility access, onboarding, and hands-on training. CCM also assists with animal operations, including billing and procurement, animal care and health, researcher services, resources, and contacts.
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews and approves protocols for Northwestern’s program for the humane care and use of animals, inspects the animal facilities and investigator laboratories, and reports its findings to the Institutional Official.
If you are involved in these types of activities related to animals, you will need to secure IACUC approval, starting here.
The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) provides humane animal care and promotes animal welfare through collaborative service, teaching, training of all Northwestern faculty, students and staff working with animals. Get started with CCM, regarding onboarding and training.
(Only Northwestern employees on active protocols will be able to access most content on the CCM website.)
Northwestern University supports the conduct of biomedical and basic research to advance knowledge and train students. Through collaborative research and education, advancements can be made in health and well-being for all individuals and animals.
Animal experiments have been vital in the development of many vaccines, including polio and of course, the COVID-19 vaccine, the isolation and use of insulin, the discovery of a vaccine for canine parvovirus (which causes a lethal infection in dogs) and other advances that have saved the lives of humans and animals.
Future advances in the treatment of human diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and cancer, will continue to depend on inquiries that use animals, humans and other alternatives.
The use of animals in research and teaching is governed by federal regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
Northwestern University has an approved assurance with the NIH, is registered with the USDA, and has maintained Full Accreditation from the AAALAC, International, since 1985.