December 15, 2016

To ensure the continued health and well-being of mice utilized in research at the University, and to remain consistent with federal standards governing animal use activities, the U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding and Cage Densities has been updated. The updated policy went into effect December 1, 2016.
 
In order to allow adequate transition time, the policy's implementation will begin with
a five-month grace period. During this time, no fees will be assessed for veterinary technician time to perform separations and no non-compliances recorded.
On May 1, 2017, the grace period will end. From that date forward, failure to adhere to the new processes and procedures outlined in the policy will result in fees for technician time and could lead to non-compliance notifications.
 
What Happens During the Grace Period?
  • The updated Cage Density and Breeding Policy is in effect and should be followed  
  • In accordance with the updated policy, cages found to be overcrowded will be flagged by husbandry staff for evaluation by the veterinary technician
    • The veterinary technician will notify laboratory personnel of cages that need to be separated by a specified deadline. If the cage is not separated by that date, the veterinary technician will perform the separation and encourage laboratory staff to reach out to their Faculty Veterinarian
  • Repeated violations will result in required meetings with a Faculty Veterinarian for further education regarding the policy
  • During the grace period, lab members are strongly encouraged to attend one of the free Breeding Workshops offered by ULAM (see article below), take the online Breeding course, and/or meet with their Faculty Veterinarian to review breeding practices. 
What is Changing?
Click on the image above to download
and print a poster summarizing these changes.
The new
U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding and Cage Densities seeks to minimize overcrowding conditions in breeding cages by requiring research staff to house no more than 2 adult mice and 1 litter (regardless of the number of pups in the litter) per standard mouse cage, unless appropriate scientific justification has been provided and approved by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC).

The easiest way to adjust to this policy change, with the least risk of non-compliance, is to house monogamous pairs (pair breeding) in a standard mouse cage.
 
Trio and/or harem breeding is still permissible provided the females are separated before birthing; in other words, trio breeding is acceptable but trio birthing is not. Should you wish to maintain certain specialized, genetically-modified lines in continuous trio breeding, you will need to document the difference in breeding success when compared to pair breeding these lines, and request an exception from the IACUC. Laboratories should discuss breeding options with their ULAM Faculty Veterinarian before proceeding.
 
Additional information and resources, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions, are available on the U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding and Cage Densities webpage . Updates will also be communicated through the monthly Animal Care & Use Newsletter and, as necessary, in future email announcements.
 
Questions or Concerns?
Questions or concerns about this new policy should first be directed to your ULAM Faculty Veterinarian . If you don't know your faculty veterinarian, please send an inquiry to ulam-questions@umich.edu and your question will be routed appropriately.
 
This change is an important step in ongoing efforts to ensure that we, as an institution, continue to improve upon the humane and responsible use of animals. Thank you for your attention to this matter.


Latest Animal Care & Use Program Activities:
ULAM Offers Workshops on Maximizing Mouse Breeding
for Research Studies


In an effort to help laboratories transition to the new U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding and Cage Densities , the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) will host a series of workshops designed to provide U-M researchers with the best practices and tools needed to produce healthy mice and maximize mouse breeding for research studies.
 
Led by ULAM Breeding Colony Supervisor Kimberly Gates,
each workshop will address:
  • Optimal breeding practices,
  • Factors that influence breeding,
  • How to keep complete and accurate breeding records,
  • Using breeding records to identify and troubleshoot problem breeding, and
  • Tips on how to maintain a healthy breeding colony.
Every session will conclude with a question and answer period where study teams can troubleshoot individual breeding scenarios and challenges. For your convenience, monthly workshops have been planned at multiple locations across campus: 

ULAM-12200 Mouse Breeding: Improving Breeding Efficiency
Monday, January 23
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
South Lecture Hall - Room 3699
Med Sci II
Monday, February 27
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Seminar Rooms - ABC
BSRB
Monday, March 27
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
3rd Floor Library
Life Sciences Institute
Monday, April 24
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
6th Floor Conference Room
Brehm Kellogg Eye Center
(have your uniqname and Level-2 password ready)

These workshops are open to any U-M laboratory member who breeds mice. If you have difficulty enrolling using the link above, you can submit a request to the ULAM Training Core to process your registration.
 
Although workshop participation is NOT required for policy compliance, this is a unique opportunity to learn from the wealth of knowledge offered by ULAM's Breeding Colony Expert. Plus, all participants will receive credit for the workshop on their  MLearning Training Record.
 
General questions about training should be directed to the ULAM Training Core at  ulam-trainingcore@umich.edu or (734) 763-8039. Questions or concerns about the new policy should be directed to your  ULAM Faculty Veterinarian.
Working with Human-Derived Substances?
Have You Completed Requisite Testing to Remain in ABSL-1 Housing?

 
New U-M guidance states that all animals administered human-derived substances (tissues, fluids, cells, or cell lines) must be housed under ABSL-2 conditions unless those substances have been documented to be free from blood-borne pathogens and other specific viruses. 

In order to effectively transition all studies affected by this new guidance with the least amount of impact to research and animals, we are relying on accurate information provided by study teams.

All laboratories currently working with human-derived substances and/or cells as part of their animal use protocol(s) should take the following actions to continue housing the animals used in their studies under standard (ABSL-1) conditions:

If you have NOT had your human-derived substances tested
Obtain requisite testing and documentation from your material provider  to demonstrate that the substances being used are free from blood-borne pathogens and other specific human viruses.
  • For human-derived substances obtained from vendors/repositories that routinely screen for human pathogens (e.g., ATCC), you may submit the screening results
    from the vendor.
  • Please note that human-derived substances obtained directly from patients cannot
    be tested, and therefore must be moved to ABSL-2 housing.

If you have already had your human-derived substances tested
and are awaiting the results
Once you receive your results, update your animal use protocol in eRAM
to specify which types of human-derived substances you are using.

Step-by-step instructions on how to upload your testing documentation in eRAM are available  here If you have any questions or concerns during this process, please contact your Research Compliance Associate in the ACU Office.

Once you have provided the appropriate documentation to demonstrate that the human-derived substances used in your laboratory are free from pathogens of concern, no further action will be required and you may continue housing your animals under ABSL-1 conditions.

If you do NOT plan to have your human-derived substances tested  OR
testing has shown that the substances used in your laboratory
are NOT free from pathogens and viruses of concern

The information you provide in the questionnaire will be used to better understand the capacity and scope that ULAM will need in order to accommodate researcher needs for ABSL-2 housing facilities over the next year and a half. This data will be taken to the IACUC in January 2017 to develop a phased plan to transition study teams into ABSL-2 housing over the subsequent five months.*

* Please note that you will NOT be required to immediately transition into ABSL-2 housing upon completion of the questionnaire. Study teams who will be moving to ABSL-2 housing will be provided additional details as they become available early next year. It is our goal to have the transition completed by May 1, 2017.

We are committed to making this process as transparent as possible, and to minimizing the impact to your research and any affected animals. To that end, a list of Frequently Asked Questions has been created to help simplify this transition. 

If you have additional questions or concerns about this new guidance, please send an email to  hds-questions@umich.edu.
Learn How Different Laboratory Hoods Affect Your Research


Many research and animal laboratories use containment devices to keep the user separated from the hazards they are working with. These devices are often referred to by several different names, including: cell culture hood, tissue culture hood, laminar flow hood, PCR hood, clean bench, or biosafety cabinet. An important thing to note, however, is that not all of these devices perform or provide the same level of protection.
 
The common feature is that the equipment provides laminar airflow for a "clean" work area, but not all equipment provides additional personnel or environmental protection. Work involving hazardous agents should always be conducted in an appropriate containment device in order to protect the worker. It is important to understand the safety features of each device and consider their application to your research:


Laminar Flow Hood (Clean Bench)
Primarily designed to provide a sterile work environment.
Does NOT provide any protection to personnel or environment.

Biosafety Cabinet
Primarily designed to protect against exposure to particulates and aerosols from biological agents. Provides product, personnel, and environmental protection.
Chemical Fume Hood
Ventilated, enclosed workspace intended to capture, contain, and exhaust harmful or dangerous chemical fumes, vapors, and particulate matter outside the laboratory.
Animal Transfer Station
Primarily designed to provide animal allergen control while performing husbandry operations, including cage changing or animal transfer.

Download this flyer for more information on the key differences between laboratory hoods
and their proper use(s).
 
If you have any additional questions, please contact the department of Environment, Health
& Safety (formerly OSEH) at
OSEH-AnimalSafety@umich.edu
eRAM Updates and Reminders


The Principal Investigators' Commitment
The U-M continues to develop an Animal Care & Use Program that is based on the philosophy of shared responsibility. In an effort to strengthen this culture and reduce regulatory burden, Principal Investigators (PIs) are asked to agree to a series of statements that are associated with submitting their animal use protocols in eRAM. This simplified process allows PIs to agree to assurances that certain regulatory criteria have been satisfied in lieu of providing a written justification for each criterion.
 
For example, eRAM prompts a PI using laboratory rodents to confirm that "he or she has made every effort to refine their project to reduce animal pain and distress and alternatives to painful or distressful procedures were considered." In an alternate system, PIs could be asked to perform a literature search for alternatives to painful procedures and provide a written summary of that search as part of their protocol submission in order to satisfy the regulatory requirement to consider alternatives to conducting painful procedures.
 
By agreeing that the regulatory requirements summarized in the eRAM assurance statements are satisfied, PIs share in the responsibility of meeting these requirements with minimal added burden. To ensure that U-M continues developing a culture of shared responsibility and reduced regulatory burden, PIs are asked to carefully read each assurance statement in eRAM to ensure that they are satisfying all regulatory requirements. Recently revised assurance statements can be reviewed on the eRAM Protocol Updates page .
 
Accepting OSEH Findings
As the Animal Care & Use Office (ACU) Office moves forward with various protocol changes, the approval of all protocols and amendments will be halted until the Principal Investigator (PI) has accepted the OSEH Findings and Recommendations.
 
The process to complete this task is simple:
  1. From the Protocol Workspace, click Accept OSEH Findings and Recommendations activity
  2. Review the findings and click OK*
* If the department of Environment, Health & Safety (formerly OSEH) makes changes
to the recorded findings and recommendations, you will be notified and will need to re-accept the findings.
 
Please note that this is a "PI Only Function" and cannot be performed by Protocol Editors. Questions or concerns should be directed to your Research Compliance Associate in the ACU Office.
 
A complete list of eRAM updates, including a link to the Protocol Updates page, can be reviewed via eRAM's Bi-Weekly Release Notes .
Jessi Kittel Joins ACU Office as Third Quality Assurance Specialist


In November, the Animal Care & Use Office welcomed Jessi Kittel as their third Quality Assurance Specialist. In this capacity, she will support researchers across campus in maintaining complaint programs.
 
Jessi comes to the University of Michigan from Tufts University, where she served as both an IACUC/IBC Regulatory Administrative Assistant and then as an IACUC Administrator.  In these roles, she reviewed animal use protocols and amendments, participated in the development of institutional policies and laboratory animal use guidelines, and assisted with program review and research personnel training. Jessi recently became a Certified Professional IACUC Administrator, and looks forward to forging new relationships with U-M study teams while sharing her knowledge of nationally-accepted best practice standards in animal care and use.
 
Please join us in welcoming Jessi to the team!
Special ULAM Holiday Hours


Several service areas in the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) will be closed or operating at limited capacity during the upcoming holiday season. Below is a list of operating schedules and plans for areas that may have a direct impact on researchers.
 
To ensure that your research needs are met quickly and efficiently before the end of the calendar year, please review and share these schedules with your team, plan ahead, and act early.
 
Animal Ordering and Deliveries
There will be no animal deliveries Monday, December 26 through Monday, January 2.
The deadline for ordering animals to arrive during the first week of January (Tuesday, January 3 - Friday, January 6) is Tuesday, December 20.
 
Animal Surgery Operating Rooms
The Animal Surgery Operating Rooms (ASOR) will be closed Saturday, December 24 through Monday, January 2 unless prior arrangements have been made with Dr. Jean Nemzek, ASOR Program Director.
 
ULAM Administration & Finance Office
The ULAM Administration & Finance Office will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, December 23
and remain closed through Monday, January 2. The office will re-open at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, January 3.
 
ULAM Training Core
The ULAM Training Core will be closed Monday, December 26 through Monday, January 2.
 
If you have specific questions about a particular service area not listed above, please contact ULAM at ulam-questions@umich.edu or (734) 764-0277.
Important Deadlines and Reminders


Keeping track of deadlines can be challenging. That's why we've compiled a list of several important deadlines affecting the animal care and use community.
 
For your convenience, contact information and additional resources are also provided below.


New U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding Cage Densities Now In Effect
The updated U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding and Cage Densities went into effect December 1, 2016. In order to allow adequate transition time, the policy's implementation will begin with a five-month grace period. All laboratory staff involved in the care and use of mice and/or rats should read the new policy in its entirety to familiarize themselves with new policies and procedures.
 
Learn more by visiting the U-M Policy on Mouse and Rat Breeding and Cage Densities webpage.

Deadline for Ordering Animals to Arrive Between
January 3 - January 6
In observance of U-M Season Days, there will be no animal deliveries Monday, December 26 through Monday, January 2.

The deadline for ordering animals to arrive during the first week of January (Tuesday, January 3 - Friday, January 6) is Tuesday, December 20.

ULAM-12200 Mouse Breeding:
Improving Breeding Efficiency Workshop

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | South Lecture Hall - Room 3699, Med Sci II
Enroll today (have your uniqname and Level-2 password ready)

Questions should be directed to the ULAM Training Core
at ulam-trainingcore@umich.edu or (734) 763-8039.

ULAM-12200 Mouse Breeding:
Improving Breeding Efficiency Workshop

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Seminar Rooms - ABC, BSRB
Enroll today (have your uniqname and Level-2 password ready)

Questions should be directed to the ULAM Training Core
at ulam-trainingcore@umich.edu or (734) 763-8039.


ULAM-12200 Mouse Breeding:
Improving Breeding Efficiency Workshop
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | 3rd Floor Library, Life Sciences Institute
Enroll today (have your uniqname and Level-2 password ready)

Questions should be directed to the ULAM Training Core
at ulam-trainingcore@umich.edu or (734) 763-8039.

ULAM-12200 Mouse Breeding:
Improving Breeding Efficiency Workshop
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | 6th Floor Conf. Rm, Brehm Kellogg Eye Ctr.
Enroll today (have your uniqname and Level-2 password ready)

Questions should be directed to the ULAM Training Core
at ulam-trainingcore@umich.edu or (734) 763-8039.

Animal Research Spotlight

 
In the November 1 issue of eLife , a team of University of Michigan researchers detail how they've transplanted 3-D mini lungs, which mimic several aspects of the structure and complexity of human lungs, into immunosuppressed mice and show that the mini lungs can survive, grow, and mature.

Working with U-M Professor of Biomedical Engineering Lonnie Shea, Ph.D., the team used a biodegradable scaffold, which had been developed for transplanting
tissue into animals, to achieve successful transplantation
of the mini lungs into mice.

The transplanted human lung tissue holds promise, authors say, as an important new tool to study lung disease, and may open up new avenues for drug discovery. Continue reading
For more information about the Animal Care & Use Program  at the University of Michigan,  CLICK HERE .
Our mission in the Animal Care & Use Office is to support the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, fostering sustained excellence in animal care and use in scientific research and education, and promoting the philosophy that the highest animal welfare standards are necessary for impactful science.