Guidance from the Animal Care & Use Program
On March 16, 2020, all individuals on an active animal use protocol received an email from the Animal Care & Use Program Leadership Team outlining several important updates and recommended changes for how PIs and their laboratories should organize research projects involving animals amid the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation.
In a follow-up email to the entire animal care and use community on March 17, 2020, U-M's Attending Veterinarian provided additional clarification on several pieces of guidance, including:
- Continuity of routine daily husbandry and veterinary care
- Ongoing experiments using animals
- Cessation of breeding as it pertains to commercially-available species/strains
- Animal identification
- Placing orders for animals and other medications/supplies
- ULAM Training Core classes
- IACUC protocol reviews
- And many more.
Please review this information carefully to determine appropriate actions on how to best safeguard your research during this time. Ongoing guidance, information, FAQs, and other updates regarding research involving animals will be posted to the UMOR Research Operations page.
Perhaps more than most, we are accustomed to maintaining our poise and carrying out our responsibilities during unusual circumstances. Please know that our entire animal care team remains committed to supporting your research, your staff, and the animals within our care, however possible. With this in mind, please continue to reach out to our team with any questions and concerns; we are here to help safeguard and support your research activities. Please don’t hesitate to connect with questions at ulam-questions@umich.edu.