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Institutional Compliance

About Institutional Compliance

The University of Washington (UW) is committed to conducting quality animal research in an ethical and responsible manner to further science and to improve the health of society. The UW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) ensures compliance with federal regulations, reviews all animal use protocols, inspects animal facilities and laboratories, and oversees the training and educational programs. The Office of Animal Welfare provides support to the IACUC and to faculty and researchers utilizing live animals.

Frequently Requested Regulatory Information

Below is a listing of the University of Washington’s assurance and accreditation information you may need, as well as links to regulatory inspection reports. If your sponsor requires a copy of the associated documents or letters, please contact the Office of Animal Welfare, oawrss@uw.edu.

Regulatory Information

AAALAC Accreditation

AAALAC International is a non-profit accreditation organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary program assessment and accreditation. The University of Washington has been accredited by AAALAC International since 1982.

Reference Assurance: #000523
Most Recent AAALAC Site Visit: 06/22/2023 through 06/30/2023
Most Recent Full Accreditation issued: 11/20/2023

Public Health Service (PHS) Assurance issued by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)

OLAW is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the regulatory body for all animal activities funded by the federal government, including the NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF). OLAW’s primary standards are the Public Health Services Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals.

Assurance Number: D16-00292 or A3464-01 (either number can be used)
Most Recent OLAW Site Visit (Site 01): 08/28/2012 through 08/31/2012
Most Recent OLAW Site Visit (Site 02): 08/18/2022
Most Recent Assurance Approval Date: 12/29/2020
Assurance Expiration Date: 12/31/2024

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Registration

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is the regulatory body that oversees activities involving the use of vertebrate animals at government-registered research institutions. USDA’s primary standards is the Animal Welfare Act.

USDA Certificate Number: 91-R-0001
Most Recent USDA Inspection (Site 01): 11/28/2023
Most Recent USDA Inspection (Site 02): 03/21/2023

The University of Washington’s animal care and use program is regularly reviewed and inspected to ensure the humane care and treatment of animals used in research, teaching, and testing. We voluntarily post reports from these regulatory inspections and site visits because we believe in openness about the important work that we do. Use the links below to view summaries and full inspection and site visit reports from our AAALAC, OLAW, and USDA inspections.

USDA Inspection Reports
Other Inspection Reports

Oregon House Bill 2904 (HB2904), passed by the Oregon house and senate in 2023, requires that specific information related to the use of nonhuman primates in research be made available on a publicly accessible website. Although this bill does not pertain to the University of Washington, we are committed to openness about how and why nonhuman primates are involved in research conducted at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC). The information provided here is available via open access websites or public records requests, but has been consolidated for accessibility. To learn more about the work performed at the WaNPRC, visit the links below.

  • The number of nonhuman primates, listed by species, that, in the previous year:
  • Links to publicly accessible websites that include descriptions of research using nonhuman primates. (WaNPRC Homepage and External Resources)
  • Funding awarded directly to WaNPRC for Federal Fiscal Year 22: ($25M)
  • Any inspection reports of the United States Department of Agriculture related to animal welfare at the university that include information about nonhuman primate welfare during the previous year. (USDA Inspection Reports)
  • Documentation of the accreditation of the university’s Washington National Primate Research Center. (AAALAC International accreditation)
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