Federal oversight

Research with animals involves significant oversight from several federal agencies.

1. The Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for establishing standards and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), a federal law governing the use of animals in research.   The United States Department of Agriculture sets the same standards for all regulated entities, including research facilities (i.e., hospitals, universities, diagnostic laboratories, and private firms in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries), dealers, exhibitors, and transit carriers (e.g., airlines, and surface carriers). The AWA requires that APHIS perform at least one compliance inspection annually on each research facility registered with the USDA. Compliance inspections are unannounced, meaning the USDA does not give the institution advance notice of inspections. (Reference: Report of the Secretary of Agriculture to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Animal Welfare Enforcement, Fiscal Year 1994. USDA, APHIS 41-35-034).
2. The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare administers the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy). This policy enforces the Health Research Extension Act (PL99-158) passed in 1985. The PHS Policy requires all institutions that receive funding from PHS organizations to maintain an Animal Welfare Assurance that fully describes the institution's program for the care and use of animals. Research and teaching funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and others, are regulated under the PHS Policy. In addition, the PHS Policy requires institutions use the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as the basis for developing their animal care and use programs. Like the Animal Welfare Act, the PHS Policy and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals all require a legally constituted oversight body or IACUC. 
3. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires research be conducted using Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). GLP regulations address animal care issues and apply to safety and efficacy studies of any food additive, drug, or medical device intended for humans. GLP studies require highly detailed records of all aspects of the research. FDA also requires adherence to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

AAALAC, International

AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals involved in research through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. Research institutions voluntarily apply for accreditation by AAALAC, International, which continually reviews accredited programs and visits facilities every three years. Site visits include a thorough review of the facility's animal care and use program and visits to all animal housing and procedure areas. Institutions that meet the highest standards of animal care are accredited by AAALAC, International and are allowed to display their accreditation status proudly. The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) has been an accredited institution since 1974. ONPRC's letter of accreditation from AAALAC, International is available at this link.

HB2904 Compliance

Oregon House Bill 2904 (HB2904) requires that ONPRC publish information on its website relating to how many nonhuman primates were born, purchased, and sold or were injured or died in a manner that resulted in an animal welfare citation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. HB2904 also requires ONPRC to a.) post documentation of its accreditation status; b.) post links to publicly accessible websites that include descriptions of research using nonhuman primates; and c.) provide the total amount of money awarded to the Center in the previous fiscal year.  This information is updated annually. Before the passage of HB2904, this information was publicly available online or through public records requests. To comply with HB2904, ONPRC reorganized its online content so that access to the data is centrally located on the Center’s website. The information can be found through the links below:

• The number of nonhuman primates, listed by species, that, in the previous year:
  • Were used in research at the university. (ONPRC Animal Numbers)
  • Were used in breeding at the university. (ONPRC Animal Numbers)
  • Were born at the university. (ONPRC Animal Numbers)
  • Were purchased or sold by the university. (ONPRC Animal Numbers)
  • Were injured, or died, in a manner that resulted in an animal welfare citation by the United States Department of Agriculture. (USDA Inspection Reports)
• Links to publicly accessible websites that include descriptions of research using nonhuman primates. (Homepage and Biomedical Research & Education Advocacy)
• The total amount of funding awarded to the university’s Oregon National Primate Research Center during the previous fiscal year. (FY22 = $56.1M)
• 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 Oregon National Primate Research Center. (External Oversight, AAALAC, International accreditation)

Scientific Advisory Board

The National Scientific Advisory Board comprises investigators who are internationally renowned scientific experts in their fields. They provide advice and guidance to principal investigators and the center director on planning and strategic initiatives. The board meets yearly to advise Drs. Jacobs, Barr-Gillespie, and Bohm concerning plans for scientific strategic initiatives. 

Members are appointed annually by the director and may serve up to five consecutive terms.