Frequently asked questions

UMass Chan is home to nationally and internationally recognized scientists who seek to understand and cure diseases such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and ALS as well as infectious diseases and diseases affecting infants and children. The use of laboratory animals in research is a crucial and often necessary part of this important work.

• Various species of animals share genetic, anatomical and physiological similarities with humans, which means scientists can use animals as models when studying biological processes, diseases and potential therapies. Animal models are an essential component to the development of life-saving treatments for disease because they allow basic science to be transformed into life-saving patient care
• Animals are susceptible to many of the same diseases or health conditions as humans. Mice in particular can be genetically engineered to better study disease mechanisms. Thus, animal models provide invaluable insights into human disease mechanisms, preventative and therapeutic targets, and treatment strategies. These scientific discoveries and medical advancements translate to veterinary medicine as well, improving the health of pets, livestock and wildlife.
• With a shorter natural life cycle than humans, laboratory animals can be studied throughout their entire life span and across multiple generations. For example, many illnesses such as cancer run in families. Children may inherit factors that cause a high risk for developing diseases. The use of animals allows for offspring to be studied and to answer critical questions about diseases that are passed between generations.
• Current U.S. federal law and regulations often require proof of safety and effectiveness through testing in animal studies before human studies. This means that groundbreaking new medicines and cures often cannot be created without first using animals in research.
• Like all research institutions that utilize animals, UMass Chan uses animals only in studies where research questions require observation of a complete biological system and research cannot be carried out using humans or other technologies.

UMass Chan uses alternatives to animals in research when such alternatives exist. Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in developing alternatives to animals, including in vitro phantoms, cell culture, computer models, organs-on-a-chip and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids, but there are still many cases in which research with animals is necessary to study the complex interactions of biological systems. In these situations, laboratory animals can help by mimicking human disease or ailment to allow for advances in therapeutic approaches and identify promising new cures and undesired or dangerous side effects, such as infertility, birth defects, toxicity or cancer-causing potential. Our scientists are actively working on AI models and other alternative models that we envision will one day predict the safety and efficacy of therapies for human and veterinary diseases without the use of laboratory animals.

UMass Chan investigators first pursue alternative approaches to using laboratory animals. However, animals in research remain the gold standard and final step often required prior to getting approval to embark on clinical trials in humans. They are an essential step in both the discovery and translation of novel therapies.

Before embarking on a research study, researchers carefully consider and rigorously justify why there is no alternative to an animal model and the minimum number of animals necessary to answer specific questions and provide a detailed protocol for experiments for approval. Prior to initiation of any project, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews all research involving vertebrate animals to ensure humane care and use.

An emphasis of our program is known commonly as the “3Rs” of research: Reduce, Refine and Replace.

• Reduce refers to the reduction in the number of animals needed to answer a specific question. This is often done by deploying advanced technologies that provide more sensitive output data with reduced variability, therefore allowing us to use fewer animals to decisively answer the question.
• Refine involves developing less invasive approaches in animal modeling, an area where UMass Chan has been a leader in using minimally invasive image-guided procedures rather than invasive surgery.
• Replace refers to using alternatives to animal models, which is always the default consideration, where possible, to rigorously answer scientific questions.

These elements of the 3Rs are included in grant applications as well as in IACUC protocols.

UMass Chan is committed to upholding the highest standards of laboratory animal welfare in our research programs. UMass Chan remains dedicated to rigorous compliance with all regulations governing the ethical and humane treatment of animals in research.  The Medical School strives to comply with all policies and laws concerning the care of animals which is an integral part of the institution’s research work. The program is fully accredited by AAALAC International, a private, nonprofit organization focused on improving animal welfare in science. AAALAC accreditation is widely recognized as a rigorous standard for verification of a robust and compliant research animal care program. Accreditation also demonstrates an institution’s commitment to go above and beyond federally mandated minimum requirements for animal care and use.

The Department of Animal Medicine at UMass Chan provides for the physical and psychological well-being of animals used in biomedical research. The department accomplishes its mission by providing high quality animal care and by aiding and advising the Medical School’s research community on the appropriate use of laboratory animals. Animal well-being is assessed and managed by the Department of Animal Medicine on a daily basis.

• Animal Medicine staff check animals for health and well-being, and provide water and food, every day of the year.
• Veterinarians are available for animal care every day of the year.
• Cleaning is performed on a regular schedule to provide the animals with a sanitary and safe environment and to comply with species-specific requirements of federal animal welfare laws. UMass Chan animal facilities meet or exceed standards set by federal law.
• Animals are provided with environmental enrichment that allows them to express species-typical behavior such as nest building and remain cognitively challenged by allowing them to engage in play and manipulate toys and/or receive sensory stimulation.

At UMass Chan, nearly 95 percent of all animals used in research are mice, rats and zebrafish. Across all research institutions, mice are the most commonly used animal in biomedical research. Because mice are mammals, their organ systems are similar to those in humans and they can be genetically engineered to study very specific aspects of virtually any human or animal disease.

UMass Chan’s animal enrichment program promotes animal welfare by encouraging species-specific behaviors in an environment that mitigates distress and boredom in research animal populations. UMass Chan aims to exceed federal standards and regulations whenever possible. Some ways in which the institution enriches the welfare of animals in research are through species-appropriate toys and treats, human interaction, exercise, and group housing of socially inclined species as appropriate.

UMass Chan has robust policies and procedures for conducting humane animal-based research that are administered by a federally mandated committee called the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The mission of the UMass Chan IACUC is to ensure animal welfare while promoting excellence in basic science, translational research and teaching. The IACUC oversees compliance with federal, state and local regulatory requirements, maintaining an animal research program of excellence. The committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all proposals using vertebrate animals in research, teaching and testing. No animal-based research may be conducted at the Medical School without prior IACUC approval of an animal use protocol. UMass Chan’s IACUC is qualified through the experience and expertise of its members, oversees all aspects of the institution’s animal care and use program, including facilities and procedures. In addition, the committee has a rigorous post-approval monitoring program to ensure protocol compliance.

By overseeing the institution’s animal research program, the IACUC enhances the ability of investigators to address important biological questions and successfully compete for research grant support.

The Medical School’s IACUC membership includes veterinarians, a nonaffiliated member, nonscientists, compliance staff and scientists/faculty members from various departments who conduct research and teach. The IACUC meets regularly to review animal use protocols and to discuss other aspects of the animal care and use program at the Medical School. Campus experts in environmental health and safety also participate in protocol reviews to ensure human health and safety.

IACUC policy prohibits IACUC members from overseeing their own work. Any IACUC member whose research is being reviewed by IACUC is automatically recused from their role on the IACUC and an alternate member fills their role.

Research involving laboratory animals is among the most highly regulated uses of animals in the United States and around the world. In the United States, federal, state, and local laws regulate the use of animals in research, teaching and testing and professional organizations and accrediting bodies provide additional guidance and standards.

• Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is one of the U.S. federal laws that governs the use of certain animals in research and establishes minimum standards of care that must be provided to AWA-covered research animals. All institutions using AWA-covered animals must register with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA inspects the institutions’ animal facilities at least annually and may inspect at any time without prior notice. The results of these inspections are publicly available on the USDA website.
• Another federal law governing the use of research animals is the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (HREA) which provides the legal framework for the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) for PHS-conducted or supported activities. Guidance, interpretation and compliance with the PHS policy is overseen by the Office of Animal Welfare (OLAW) within the National Institutes of Health. The PHS policy requires adherence to the guidelines and standards in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The PHS Policy requires institutions conducting PHS-supported activities involving live vertebrate animals to maintain a current OLAW-approved Animal Welfare Assurance. The Medical School renewed its NIH Animal Welfare Assurance in 2024.
• Both the AWA and HREA require institutions to have an appropriately constituted Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Both federal laws require that the IACUC’s authority is independent and its decisions can’t be overruled by the organization’s administration.  
• Massachusetts has state regulations, administered through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, addressing the use of cats and dogs in research.
• UMass Chan also follows applicable professional guidelines and standards from the American Veterinary Medical Association and other professional organizations that apply to the use and care of research animals.

The UMass Chan IACUC applies standards required by these federal and state regulations equally to all vertebrate animals used for research.

UMass Chan is fully accredited by AAALAC International, a private nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through a voluntary accreditation program administered by veterinarians, animal care and use professionals, and researchers. AAALAC accreditation is considered the gold standard for laboratory animal care. UMass Chan was granted a three-year continuation of its AAALAC accreditation in March 2026. Accredited institutions are required to complete an extensive self-assessment of all aspects of the animal care and use program and host a triennial site visit. AAALAC evaluators reviewed the self-assessment and conducted a site visit at the Medical School in October 2025 to ensure that regulations and standards of care were being met.

UMass Chan strives to comply with all applicable regulations and guidelines such as the Public Health Service  policy, including self-regulation and self-reporting.

Issues of noncompliance may be found during the required semi-annual inspections, during routine post-approval monitoring, or through individual reporting of concerns or noncompliance by UMass Chan researchers. Examples of noncompliance, including issues not involving harm to animals, may be found on the NIH website.

Self-reporting is done as soon as possible through verbal and/or written communication to the required external agencies.

UMass Chan employees and students are encouraged to report concerns with respect to the animal care or use at UMass Chan immediately and the IACUC provides several ways to do so, including anonymously. Animal welfare concerns may be reported to the IACUC, attending veterinarian or institutional official in writing, by telephone, by email, in person or anonymously by filling out a form on the IACUC website. Concerns may be raised by anyone, including employees, students and the public. The IACUC will take appropriate action in a timely manner. In all instances, the IACUC will serve as the complainant during an investigation without identifying the individual who raised the concern. Discriminatory or retaliatory action against any employee or student reporting an animal welfare concern to IACUC or cooperating with an investigation is strictly prohibited.