1. Animal Care and Use Inspections and Program Review A. Review the CDPH animal care and use program for the humane care and use of animals. B. Inspect the animal facilities; assist in preparing reports to the Institutional Official of the Institutional Animal Care and Use evaluations; review animal welfare concerns. C. Make recommendations to the Institutional Official on any aspect of the animal program, facilities, or personnel training. D. Conduct program reviews and facility inspections at least every 6 months. E. Inspection-related work (frequency of at least twice a year, up to 5 times a year). 1) Provide routine vivarium inspections. 2) Participate in preliminary and pre-inspection activities to ensure compliance and successful inspection outcomes. 3) Conduct an on-site semiannual facility inspection with the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee), following checklist and inspection protocol. 4) Participate in semiannual program review following OLAW (NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare) semiannual review checklist. 5) Participate in semiannual IACUC meeting; Review and communicate inspection findings with the IACUC committee. 6) As needed, conduct post-inspection meetings to discuss findings, review CDPH labs’ protocols, and provide subject matter expertise. 7) Follow up on moderate to critical post-inspection items. 8) Provide subject matter expertise and guidance to inspectors during the triennial Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) inspection and accreditation. Every 2-3 months. Maximum of 15 times through the duration of the agreement. 2. Development of Program Description A. Annually review and update the California Department of Public Health’s Animal Use and Care Program Description document and finalize for the triannual AAALAC accreditation. AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through a voluntary accreditation program. More than 1,140+ companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 52 countries/regions have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC's program, in addition to complying with all applicable local and national laws that regulate animal research. B. Assist CDPH staff in the writing and review of guidelines, policy, and Standard Operating Procedures. Yearly Maximum twice over the duration of the agreement. 3. Review and approve animal use protocols A. Review and approve activities related to the care and use of animals. B. Review and approve proposed significant changes to the use of animals in ongoing activities and be authorized to suspend any activity involving animals. C. Post-approval monitoring occurs annually, and new protocols are reviewed in detail every three years. Yearly Maximum twice over the duration of the agreement.
