Care standards

How a highly regulated, interdisciplinary framework supports the lab animal program at UMass Chan

UMass Chan Medical School operates its laboratory animal program through a highly regulated, interdisciplinary framework designed to support ethical, high-quality research. The Department of Animal Medicine works closely with the Medical School’s research community who require the use of laboratory animals to develop RNA and gene-based therapies for severe, life-threatening diseases and answer key biological questions. The UMass Chan Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) provides oversight of the institution’s animal program, facilities, procedures and training related to research involving animal subjects.

The animal medicine team comprises approximately 65 employees, including veterinarians certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Board; animal care technicians certified by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science; and veterinary technicians and support staff. They observe and care for the animals every day of the year. Daily operations include animal husbandry, health monitoring, preventive medicine and clinical care. Standardized procedures guide housing, nutrition, environmental enrichment, and sanitation to promote animal welfare and scientific integrity. Nearly 95 percent of the animals used in research at UMass Chan are mice, rats and zebrafish.

All of the animal facilities at UMass Chan are fully accredited by AAALAC International, a nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. AAALAC accreditation is globally considered the highest standard in laboratory animal medicine. UMass Chan was provided a three-year continuation of its AAALAC accreditation in March 2026. The animal care and use program strives to comply with all pertinent federal and state laws, regulations, and policies regarding laboratory animals.

Overall, the program integrates animal welfare, regulatory compliance and scientific support to enable responsible biomedical research.