As such, it receives unannounced inspections by federal veterinarians throughout the year. These federal inspectors have complete access to all animal care and use information regarding OHSU's program. Their unannounced inspections are very complete. OHSU has always had an excellent compliance record. OHSU works daily to ensure this record remains intact, by training staff, monitoring care, and evaluating procedures and polices for progressiveness.
Good research requires healthy animals.
The ethical and humane treatment of animals is imperative not only because it is the right and respectful thing to do for our nonhuman research partners, but also for accurate medical research. Well-treated animals provide more reliable scientific results, which is the goal of all researchers. OHSU, like all institutions conducting animal research, maintains an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee made up of scientists and veterinarians from OHSU and a community representative not affiliated with the university. This committee has the power to reject any research proposal and stop ongoing projects if it believes federal or university standards are not being met. Animals come from USDA-licensed Class A animal dealers, who breed animals specifically for research.