Join us for an engaging session with Dr. Lisa Levin, a leading advocate for the 3Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement. Dr. Levin will discuss key steps in promoting the adoption of non-animal research models.
The event will also feature lighting talks by the 2024 3Rs Pilot Award recipients, showcasing their innovative work in advancing the 3Rs principles.
This event is open to the UW community and the public. Registration is required. A free networking lunch will be provided (limited to the first 40 attendees; registration for lunch is now full).
Learn more about the work of the Cancer Vaccine Institute – a translational lab developing cancer and autoimmunity vaccines. Denise Cecil, Ph.D. talks about the work of the lab and their use of mice in their studies.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Pacific Time.
On Thursday, August 22, the Allentown educational webinar will feature guest presenter, Dr. Thompson-Iritani serves as AVP, Animal Care, Outreach, & 3Rs at the University of Washington (UW).
The 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—are fundamental principles in animal research aimed at enhancing ethical standards and scientific quality. However, their implementation often becomes a perfunctory task, failing to fully realize their potential.
UW challenged themselves to make the 3Rs more than a checkbox through strategic initiatives. Key approaches included fostering a culture of ethical responsibility, enhancing awareness, providing pilot funding for 3Rs-focused initiatives, and partnering with the 3Rs Collaborative (3RsC).
By prioritizing innovative methodologies and technologies, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring transparent communication of 3R advancements, UW researchers are working together to significantly improve animal welfare and research outcomes.
The goal is to embed the 3Rs into the scientific ethos, making them a continuous and dynamic process that enhances both ethical standards and scientific integrity. This commitment is leading to a transformative impact, positioning UW as a leader in ethical animal research practices.
Attend this session to gain valuable insights and discover practical strategies to empower your organization to embrace the 3Rs, ultimately enhancing animal welfare, improving research outcomes, and positioning you at the forefront of ethical research practices.
Cindy A. Buckmaster, PhD, CMAR, RLATG, will moderate this session.
This webinar meets AALAS and CALAS requirements for 1.00 hour of Continuing Education (CE) and may be used elsewhere where accepted.
In this “Behind the Papers” post, Edward Kelly, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics, describes the challenges faced to modify the kidney MPS perfusion system from a terrestrial lab to the ISS-NL for two successful launches in 2019 (CRS-17) and 2022 (CRS-22) as well as the experimental results from CRS-17.
In this video, Scott Imbrie shares his experience being part of a study on spinal cord injuries and the use of brain computer interfaces. These important components were developed with academic researchers who first created the technology working with non-human primates.
Please note, this video contains content that includes photos of living brain and surgical appliances.
The University of Washington’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) was informed on Thursday of recent incidents at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC), which have prompted changes to protocols and procedures to ensure high standards of animal welfare and research integrity.
Pausing of incoming shipments – As of May, incoming shipments of non-human primates were paused after an April 25 shipment of four geriatric pig-tail macaques raised compliance concerns. Issues included unlisted source institutions, prior surgery on an animal that was not described in protocols, and non-compliance with shipping standard operating procedures. These concerns prompted a thorough review by a high-level animal care leadership team. Immediate actions included halting shipments, enhancing standard operating procedures with better documentation and real-time monitoring, and clarifying primary investigator protocol approval requirements. Despite procedural issues, the transport care was adequate. One geriatric macaque was euthanized due to health condition and decline after arrival. Veterinary staff were not able to identify any evidence that the shipping caused the animal’s condition.
Water withholding incident (November 2022): An animal inadvertently had water withheld for over 24 hours and improvements were made in water provision documentation. This was reported to the IACUC at the time of the initial occurrence. The animal later developed acute interstitial nephritis. We cannot definitively say that withholding water in 2022 directly caused this animal’s chronic kidney pathology but felt that it was important to notify the IACUC of the animal’s current condition. The animal remains on ad-lib water to prevent further complications.
Intracranial injection complications (August 2023): A 22-year-old macaque experienced complications during intracranial injections. Upon recovery from the procedure the animal was treated for a grand mal seizure and partial paralysis. After a recovery period the animal was approved for a second surgery which was performed without incident, but the macaque did not revive from anesthesia and was euthanized. Necropsy revealed significant hemorrhage likely secondary to the injections. This was consistent with the IACUC protocol, identifying bleeding as a potential rare risk of the procedure. These incidents were reported to the attending veterinarian by WaNPRC veterinary staff in May 2024. It is unclear why there was a delay in reporting this incident to the IACUC or the attending veterinarian, who acknowledged that the complications and severity of the outcome from the first procedure warranted immediate notification to the IACUC.
The UW is committed to transparency and accountability in the use and care of animals for academic research, and is developing clearer guidelines, enhancing oversight, and continually evaluating practices to ensure compliance and animal welfare. The IACUC was apprised of these incidents, and they will continue to be updated as other investigations proceed. Each of these incidents has been reported to the appropriate regulatory authorities.
The Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) is dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge while ensuring the ethical and humane treatment of non-human primates in research. Our mission is to foster innovative research and maintain the highest standards of animal welfare.
Zebrafish are crucial for scientific research because of their unique qualities that make them excellent models for studying various aspects of biology and human health. Their transparent embryos allow researchers to observe developmental processes in real-time. Zebrafish share a high degree of genetic similarity with humans, making them valuable for investigating genetic disorders and diseases. Additionally, their ability to regenerate tissues provides insights into tissue repair and regeneration. Overall, zebrafish serve as valuable tools in advancing our understanding of fundamental biological processes and contribute to breakthroughs in medical research and drug development.
Rita Bellanca is a first year student in the MS Environmental Health Sciences program and a trainee in the Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NWCOHS) Occupational Health at the Human-Animal Interface (OHHAI) program. Bellanca is also a Research Scientist and Head of the Behavioral Management Services (BMS) at the Washington National Primate Research Center.
The University of Washington’s animal facilities on the Seattle campus underwent a routine, unannounced inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) between Sept. 12 and 14. The inspection identified four non-compliant items, all of which had previously been self-reported by the UW and rectified before the inspection took place.
