The animal care and use program at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) is fully accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. AFRRI’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for the oversight of the animal care and use program, in accordance with all applicable regulations and guidelines, and ensures that all animals being used for research receive appropriate care, use, and humane treatment. The IACUC also serves as a resource to investigators, research staff, and administrators by providing guidance in planning and conducting all animal activities with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. Animal welfare is of the utmost concern and the entire AFRRI community embraces the guiding principles of the 4 R’s in animal research: refinement, reduction, replacement, and responsibility.

The animal vivarium is located within the Veterinary Sciences Department (VSD) at AFRRI. VSD is fully staffed and trained to provide the best animal care possible. The practices of VSD staff reflect the highest standard of animal care established within the field. The facility is equipped to house a variety of animal species, under conventional and Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL-2) conditions. Beyond husbandry and medical care, VSD offers additional support to investigators in the form of veterinary pathological services, as well as clinical hematology and histology services.