Assessing the satisfaction and burden within an academic animal care and use program [Research]

Although animal research requires adherence to various regulations and standards, the manner in which compliance is maintained and the degree of additional constraints varies between institutions. Regulatory burden, particularly if institutionally imposed, has become a concern for institutions as increased regulatory expectations result in decreased resources available for research efforts. Faculty, research staff, and support staff engaged in animal research were surveyed to determine what Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) processes were considered burdensome, the perceived value of some suggested modifications, and satisfaction with the IACUC Administrative Office and the animal resource unit. Although the results revealed overwhelming satisfaction with the IACUC Administrative Office and the animal resource unit, several IACUC processes were deemed burdensome, and therefore there would be value in modifying IACUC processes. When comparing the value of modifying IACUC processes, different groups within the animal care and use program (ACUP) tended to have different responses on many of the topics. This survey identified several perceived burdensome IACUC processes that would likely benefit individuals if modified. In today’s environment of shrinking budgets for biomedical research, minimizing regulatory burden—particularly unnecessary, self-imposed burden—in the ACUP is particularly important to ensure that costs, time, and effort are appropriate to achieve animal welfare and quality of research endeavors.—Norton, J. N., Randall, R. P., Chan, C., Valdivia, R. H., Staats, H. F. Assessing the satisfaction and burden within an academic animal care and use program.

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