AALAS in Music City
AALAS Gathers in Nashville for the 75th National Meeting
Meet New VP-Elect Brian Ebert
Advice on Surviving and Thriving as an IACUC Chair
Elevating the Welfare of Mouse
Dams: A Pilot Study on Elevated Tunnels for Breeding Mice
By Brian Ebert
Correction from July/August issue:
Due to a typographical error in our previous issue, listing winners of the 2023 Celebrate the Mouse Video Essay contest, Eisley Mercado was inadvertently left out of our list of winners. Eisley is 3rd place winner and Fan Favorite winner of the 5th -8th grade category.
Elevating the Welfare of Mouse Dams: A Pilot Study on Elevated Tunnels for Breeding Mice
By Anna S Ratuski, PhD, I Joanna Makowska, PhD, and Daniel M Weary, PhD
Gold Star Service: Advice on Surviving and Thriving as an IACUC Chair
By F. Claire Hankenson, DVM, MS, DACLAM
The Florida American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (FAALAS) Annual General Meeting New Jersey Branch Technician Night
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Robert H. Quinn
VICE PRESIDENT
James D. Macy
VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT
Jori K. Leszczynski
PAST PRESIDENT
Pamela A. Straeter
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Timothy D. Mandrell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thomas L. Joseph
TRUSTEES
District One
Jennifer L. Asher
District Two
Erin E. Vogelsong
District Three
Donna D. Tignor
District Four
Janet Lynn Steele
District Five
Stacy R. Cantrell
District Six
Stephen I. Levin
District Seven
Adrienne Ferguson
District Eight
Katherine M. Marshall
AT-LARGE TRUSTEE
Debra L. Hickman
Kenneth B. Shapiro
Gordon Yee
Jason S. Villano
Thomas L. Joseph Publisher
Ashlee Vaughn Associate Editor
Chris Lyons Associate Publisher
Degan Mesler Production Zara Garza Design
Jennifer C. Smith Editor
Heather Lampi Ad Sales
Leslie Birke Louisiana State Univ
Andrew Burich Benaroya Research Institute
Bob Dauchy Tulane Univ School of Medicine
David DeOrnellis Champions Oncology
Penny Devlin Pennsylvania State Univ College of Medicine
Sonia Doss Duke Univ Medical Center
Kelly Ethun Emory University
Glenn Jackson Cornell University
Richard Marble Oakland University
Elizabeth Nunamaker Charles River Laboratories
Sara Oglesby Abbvie
Jane Olin Edwards Life Sciences
Karuna Patil Seattle Children's Research Institute
Amy Pierce Tulane Univ School of Medicine
Stacy Pritt The Texas A&M University System
Laboratory Animal Science Professional (LAS Pro) is the official magazine for American Association for Laboratory Animal Science members. LAS Pro provides a wide range of useful resources and knowledge to the association’s 15,000 laboratory animal science professionals who are involved in advancing responsible laboratory animal care and use to benefit people and animals. All signed articles, including, committee reports, news, and commentary, reflect the individual views of the authors and are not official views of AALAS.
Authorization to photocopy portions for personal or internal use is granted by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. Photocopying for purposes of resale or outside distribution is prohibited unless written approval is obtained from the AALAS Director of Communications.
Copyright 2024 by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
Laboratory Animal Science Professional (USPS 010-730) is published bimonthly by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 9190 Crestwyn Hills Drive, Memphis, TN 38125. Periodicals Postage paid at Memphis, TN 38101 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AALAS, 9190 Crestwyn Hills Drive, Memphis, TN 38125-8538.
AALAS, 9190 Crestwyn Hills Drive, Memphis, TN 38125-8538
Phone: 901-754-8620 • Fax: 901-753-0046 • Email: info@aalas.org • Web: www.aalas.org
I cannot believe the National Meeting in Nashville is only 2 months away! They always say “time flies when you’re having fun” so I must have had a lot of fun this year. Seems like only yesterday I was sitting with many of you in the audience in Salt Lake City listening to Pam Straeter talk about her year as President. All I kept thinking about was all of the things I wanted to accomplish in my year and whether anybody would be interested or supportive of any of it. I should have known that I had nothing to worry about because all the incredible people at every level of AALAS Leadership took my ideas and ran with them in ways I never could have imagined. Under the “new” leadership of Tom Joseph, our Executive Director, the AALAS office has done an amazing job of keeping us all on task and making sure every one of your interests and needs are being met to the greatest extent possible. I could not have asked for a better team during my tenure because everyone went out of their way to make me look good….which can be a challenge sometimes.
Speaking of the National Meeting in Nashville, I hope you have registered already. If not, get on it! I have spent the year putting the challenge out there that I want at least 5000 attendees at this meeting. Although post-Covid we’ve been doing well in growing attendance again, it’s time to bring the National Meeting back to what it used to be and beyond! Take it from someone who has attended every National AALAS meeting for the last 31 years, the more people who attend, the more you will get out of the meeting. It is not only about the amazing educational opportunities you will experience. It is also the incredible networking and social interactions you never even knew would enrich your life (and possibly your paycheck). No matter how many people attend, I have no doubt that the meeting in Nashville will not disappoint. I’ve already spoken in previous columns about the hard-working program committee who have put together an outstanding lineup of educational opportunities for you. If you’ve never been to Nashville, it’s a really fun town even if you’re not a big country music fan. You can find anything for any taste there and I’m sure the local arrangements committee will have plenty of ideas for you during your personal time. Lastly, if you’re an actual working Animal Care Technician, I invite you to register for the Tech Connect Reception on Monday, November 4th from 12:30-2:00 pm. It will give you a great chance to meet other technicians from around the country, play some games, and chill out a bit before diving back into what can be a somewhat overwhelming experience (especially for first-timers). Not only that, but it will also allow me a chance to network with more of you to find out how AALAS can help make your work lives and careers better.
Well, this is the last time I get the privilege of talking to the wider AALAS community as your President. As my title says, it has been an amazing year and I want to thank everyone who has supported me, which is basically everyone I’ve met and worked with for the last 10 months. Throughout all my travels both within and out of the country, my hosts have been so gracious and helpful, and I appreciate you all so much. But now it is time to pass the hat on to Dr. Jim Macy. Jim is a smarter guy than me and I have absolutely no doubt that I am leaving us all in much better hands. I am excited for the future of AALAS and I truly hope I get to share that enthusiasm with all of you in person in Nashville!
Bob
Robert H. Quinn, DVM, DACLAM President
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
The American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) celebrates its 75th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its mission to advance responsible laboratory animal care and use to benefit people and animals. Over the past seven and a half decades, AALAS has made tremendous strides thanks to the collective, unwavering dedication and commitment of its members and volunteer leaders. As AALAS looks to the future, it remains committed to embracing new opportunities and navigating changes, while continuing its important work in the field. This anniversary is a reflection of past achievements and a celebration of the collective efforts of everyone involved in fulfilling the AALAS mission. Moving forward, we must work together to continue to position AALAS as the association of choice for current and future LAS communities.
Thomas L. Joseph, MPS, CAE
Executive Director
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Foundation
AALAS recognizes the achievements of the following members who have successfully completed their certification during July-August, 2024
April 2024
Angela Goemdt
Sara M Bell
Gabriella A Cerda-Rivera
Patricia C Garro
Tyler W Ironside
Ingrid Mejia Santos
Felipe A Navarro
Christian Savior
Gilberto E Alas
Jordan E Garcia
Anthony Andrade
Gina L Bonanno
Sarah De Leon
Kate Ellison
Rebecca L Herold
Laura Navarro Ron
Fernando Terrero
Frances M Harris
Jessica L Mason
Yuliana Miranda
Sydney Ziatek
Hannah Baker
Tuesday M Barnett
Kathleen Brewster
Alisha Farmer
May 2024
Tiffany Galligan
Renee Thompson
July 2024
Mona Jaffari
Amy Dryman
Travana Matthews
Jonalyn Faith C Perocho
Rachel C Eberhardt
Djidjell Cortes Lara
Noah Evan Schulman
Peyton T Mitchell
Chaya Goodman
Sally Aki Kawano
Chaya Goodman
Sally Aki Kawano
Wesley McBride
Timothy A Pullen
Megan Downey
Elizabeth M Kucera
Yutdelia Santana
Hannah E Shaw
Francesco V Trotta
Brittney A Garcia
Sarah N Freeman
Samuel C Graves
Eric Koeninger
Rebecca L Courtney
Cheyenne Hamilton
Linda Holmblad
Michelle Y Jin
Ashanti Q Mangrum
Heather M Applegate-Jacobson
Krysta Zmich
Abismel J Ferreira
Shannon Hyde Melcher
Zyanna M Jones
Sophia Pelehach
Shannon Riley
James Rodgers
Michael Roney
Anastasia L Schneider
Karley M Smith
Caitlin A Greene
Destine J Leos
Richard T MacDonnell
Kyle Oliveira
Kyrsten S Simmons
Jesse J Baumann-Berg
Ariel M Brownlee
Samantha M Gilchrist
Sasha H Heeren
Sharaine M Lontok-Gomez
Diana A Ortiz Velazquez
Anya Sprogoe
Nathalie K Tam
Alina White
Lucas Biernat
Meredith Brennan
JaKeezia M Chester
Taylor R Galaszewski
Rosa E Godwin
Daniel T Kostos
Makayla E Lakin
Shannon McCabe
Joseph N McKee
Shannon V Perry
Nichole Schussler
Brayton W Stuckey
Maria F Tull
Donald F Abdishi
Alyssa M Blake
Giovanni Bravo Juarez
Hayley L Cunningham-Garcia
Kiersten N Fuhrmann
Amanda L Gillespie
Anu Herd
August 2024
Steven Killian
Matthew W Grant
Gabrielle C Rupert
Claire B Swinton
Yixin Kel Pan
Casandra S Deagon
Damaris A Herrera
Lisa M Kosilla
Julie K Maynard
Elijah Ward
Stephanie Owen
Sara Popp
Sarah Smith
Katelin M VanDerslice
Nicole Hutchison-Hughes
Alicyn Tilk
Brandon Javier Botero Manotas
Susan Vickers Darnell
Andrew D Eldridge
Lauren Evans
Kyla Ja-Neen Rountree
Brittney A Jones
Chae Hyyn Kim
Victoria S Kirkpatrick
Claudia F Maldonado
Amanda L Parsons
James D Payne
Jasmine Pearson
Abbie E Smith
Grace Tucker
Robert Ashmore
Annabel Baltazar
Dixie Leigh Brewington
Dominic A Brown
Serena Chen
Andrew F Cortez
Sofia Garcia
Jewel Gonzalez
Rachel Hagen
Bailey Heinrich
Kimberly Ann Hinkle
Lavaesha Jackson
Kayla M Jones
Gabrielle N Knisley
Gabriela Narvaez
Kristina R Peterson
Shelby Ridout
Eric Schnaubelt
Julie Baker
Kori Beckley
Hailey Campos
Sarah M Cortese
Elizabeth M Cunningham
Cydney C DeCosse
Madeira J Degarmo
Ashley R Greene
Rachel Helgerson
Rebecca Hutchinson
Elizabeth Kolb
Cris Martinez
Loren Annalise Molina
Heather A Palmer
Fahti M Shafeek
Trinity K Shaver
Lauren Silverglate
Jesus M Tamayo
Tenzin Zompa
Chance E Andre
Caitlin M Andrews
Anna J Baird
Elizabeth N Cody
Adriana Cortez
Tamara O Covell
Hilary Gibson
Ashley Jones
Jessica G Jones
Courtney Matthews
Charles McDaniel
Caitlyn McHugh
Lizzet
Andrea Ricalde Otero
Anthony Thomas Roach
Angela Russell
Domenique Tripoli
Gina Velasquez
Emily G Afflerbach
Ernesto Castellanos Diaz
Hector Cuellar
Sarah C Fasanaro
Michael Barnes
Emma Victoria Ann Creque
Rorke P Dunne
Christina A Garvis
Ashley M Keating
Morgan O’Dell
Kristen Ann Paiser
Rogelio S Renteria
Jessica L Strauch
Jadyn M Taylor
Jessica L Webber
Amelia Willett
Rosalba Aceves Dominguez
Mary E Bullock
Samantha Castellano
Samantha H Cho
Ryan S Davis
Rebecca A Eiben
Bianca L Ford
Ryan C Goss
Shiloh D Heuertz
Abigail G Holland
Zachary B Hoover
Bayleigh Jones
Elvis R Martinez Garcia
Danielle Helen Olsen
Nakeisha Roberts
Madeline Rodriguez
Yaqing Wang
Gregory Woods
Brenna M Andrews
Russell Ashcroft
Martin Ballesteros
Morgan Barker
Richard F Carter
Toija Deholl
Julia A French
Mario Funes Colorado
Talia E Grossman
Edwin Hernandes
Fredrick Lopez
Alexia C Martinez
Eloisa Martinez
Aoife McGuinness
Katelyn E Piwowar
Miguelangel Pulido
Allison Rathert
Kimberly Rosas
Daniel Stutts
Clemente J Velez
Savannah Williamson
Courtney G Zilligen
Congratulations to the winners of the ASLAP 2024 Summer Fellowship in Laboratory Animal Medicine! Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and we are thrilled to celebrate your achievements. This prestigious fellowship is a testament to your commitment to advancing laboratory animal science and medicine. We look forward to seeing the incredible contributions you’ll make to our field.
Julia Krout has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who on April 24, 2024. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected based on current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all considered during the selection process.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Small Animal Science from Delaware Valley University of Doylestown, PA, in 2004 Julia then earned a Masters of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, and her Laboratory Animal Technologist certification from American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) in 2009. From 2009-2022, she worked in New York City where she obtained her Certified Manager of Animal Resources from the Institute of Certified Professional Managers and completed the Institute for Laboratory Animal Management by AALAS in 2014. While working for institutions such as Weill Cornell, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and NYU Langone Health, Ms. Krout eventually returned to Pennsylvania and began teaching at Delaware Valley University in 2022 to undergraduate students in the Animal Biotechnology and Conservation Department. Quoting a student, “She is a huge inspiration to me for my future career.” In 2024, she became an adjunct professor with the MLAS program at Drexel University.
Retired AALAS member Dr. Glen Otto has generously volunteered to enhance the AALAS digital archives by scanning and digitizing back issues of AALAS journal articles that are not currently available in digital format. This significant project includes all articles published in AALAS journals before 1997. Additionally, Dr. Otto plans to digitize essential documents relating to the early formation of AALAS, currently housed in the AALAS library at the National Office. By undertaking this monumental task, Dr. Otto is ensuring that these invaluable resources are easily accessible to readers and preserved for future generations.
In recognition of Dr. Otto’s time and dedication, AALAS will honor him as part of the 75th celebration at the National Meeting in Nashville. His dedication to preserving AALAS publications and early association documents exemplifies his dedication to the AALAS community.
Ventilators
Noninvasive
Animal Warming
What companion animals do you have? If you have none, then what kind of pet would you like to have?
I have 1 pitbull, Jaz.
Best binge-watching TV series?
I have watched all 20 seasons of Grey's Anatomy more times than I would like to admit.
What are your favorite hobbies? I enjoy spending time outside with my family.
Where is your dream vacation spot? Africa!
What is your favorite dessert? Nutella with fresh strawberries.
Facility/Employer: University of WI - Madison, Center for Biomedical Swine Research & Innovation (CBSRI)
Job Title: Research Specialist
How did you get in this field?
I was hired at UW Madison about 3 years ago as a Research Veterinary Technician. After working with lab animals for about 2 years, I quickly realized I enjoyed working with swine, and was very interested in the studies these animals were being used for. So, for about the last 6 months, I have been working in my current role as a Research Specialist in our Swine Center on the UW Madison campus. Who were your mentors?
I have several people I look up to here at the UW. But one person in particular, Devon Klipsic, DVM, has taught me almost everything I know about swine care. She has always encouraged me to do things out of my comfort zone and continues to help me make strides in my career.
What are your current interests in animal science?
We have done some incredible work here at CBSRI, but typically I tend to see myself finding the most interest in cardiac models. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Whenever I get asked this question, I always answer it this way. I want to be happy, fulfilled, and continually challenged in my career. I hope I continue to grow as a researcher, maybe doing my own swine research studies.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The swine! When I started in Veterinary Medicine 10 years ago, I don’t know if
would have ever thought I would be saying how fun it is to hang out with pigs all day.
What advice do you have for others just beginning their animal science career?
There is such a large pool of opportunities within the animal science world. Get to know people, it is a large network of amazing people who can show you so many things about this career path.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
When the people that we are doing research projects for let us know that we really are helping make strides in the future of medicine. Makes you feel like all your hard work is really making a difference. What is something unexpectedly interesting about your career?
There is a lot of cross over in human medicine! I do not think everyone makes that connection right away when they think of animal research. It is one of my favorite parts of the job.
Ebert
LASPro
What is your current role at work?
I support vivarium operations for Abbvie in Lake County, IL and in addition work to support projects/upgrades to other vivarium locations for AbbVie.
Ebert
LAS Pro
When did you join AALAS, and why did you decide to join?
I was given a branch membership to the Southern Wisconsin AALAS branch when completing my associate degree. After joining AbbVie I immediately joined National AALAS completing my 3 certifications. I recognized the value in what was offered as a member. After completion of my bachelor’s degree for the last 14 years I have had the opportunity to support ILAM, NM program, and the AALAS Foundation.
LAS Pro
What do you think was the most important project you worked on as an AALAS Foundation/Committee member?
Ebert
Working to gain vendor support for fundraising and getting recognition for members.
What will you bring to the table in your new role?
Ebert
Having served AALAS on various committees over the last 14 years, I look forward to connecting to the membership and make possibilities real for the membership through the advancement in training and education of our technicians.
What would you like to say to the AALAS membership?
Ebert
Thank you for all your support and look forward to the next 4 years supporting this great organization.
What is your favorite National Meeting memory?
Ebert
This is a tough one…First meeting was the 50th AALAS in Indianapolis, I have presented posters/platforms at multiple meetings over the years. The 2012 AALAS meeting in San Diego stands out slightly, this meeting was the first year that I got to serve the AALAS Foundation as the reception auctioneer.
What are your thoughts as we celebrate AALAS’ 75th Anniversary?
Ebert
WOW how time flies, my first AALAS meeting was the 50th anniversary in Indianapolis. Does not seem possible but feel that the strong commitment of the professionals that make up this great organization will continue to serve and support the mission of AALAS for decades to come.
What are you most looking forward to as AALAS continues to move toward the future?
Ebert
The evolution of this industry to maximize AI and technology opportunities to provide exemplary care for the animals each day.
Ebert
We have 4 cats-Cupid, Indy, Smokey, and The Bandit.
LAS Pro
Do you have companion animals?
LAS Pro Favorite TV show?
Ebert
Variety of shows, including American Ninja Warrior, Pickers, and America’s Got Talent
LAS Pro
Last book you read for fun?
Ebert
The various manuals to successfully complete my CMAR certification.
Ebert
Any location that has hiking or biking trails to enjoy the great outdoors.
LAS Pro
Favorite vacation spot?
LAS Pro Favorite dessert?
Ebert Popcorn.
Ebert
Traveled to Russia on an agricultural exchange for 6 weeks, trip was awesome but did end the trip with an appendicitis and needing surgery.
LAS Pro
Unique life event?
Having served the research community for more than 50 years, we are well known for creating products that meet the unique needs of research animals.
While we consider all our products to be an important part of animal care, some stand out as absolutely essential.
We are proud that our products, both important and essential, are trusted by researchers around the globe!
The history of Nashville, TN, begins with the Mississippian culture, who settled in the area between 1000 and 1400 A.D. These early inhabitants cultivated corn, constructed impressive earthen mounds, and created intricate pottery before mysteriously disappearing. The region later served as a hunting ground for the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee tribes.
In 1779, a group of pioneers led by Englishman James Robertson established Nashborough on the banks of the Cumberland River near present-day downtown Nashville. In 1784, the community’s name was changed to Nashville. Tennessee became the sixteenth state in 1796, and Nashville was designated its permanent capital in 1843.
The city’s transformation into “Music City USA” began with the establishment of the Grand Ole Opry in 1925, which, along with a thriving publishing industry, solidified Nashville’s reputation as a major hub for music. Many musicians have called Nashville home including Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, Donna Summer, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and countless others.
During the AALAS National Meeting in Nashville, attendees will have the opportunity to experience an array of exciting events. On November 3, 2024, catch the thrilling NFL matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots. The same evening, enjoy a unique performance of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert. On November 4, indulge in the Nashville Coffee Festival, a must for coffee enthusiasts. Don’t miss Billie Eilish in concert on November 6 for an unforgettable night of music. Throughout November, experience the enchanting Annual Chinese Festival of Lights: Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo. These events ensure your visit to Nashville will be filled with entertainment and cultural experiences.
Exploring Nashville:
Nashville is a city brimming with endless attractions, ensuring a memorable visit for everyone. Immerse yourself in the rich musical heritage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, or get up close with wildlife at the Nashville Zoo. Take a scenic walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for stunning views of the city. Experience the vibrant nightlife along the Honky Tonk Highway, also known as Lower Broadway. Explore The Parthenon in Centennial Park, an exact replica of the original in Athens. Don’t miss a visit to the iconic Grand Ole Opry for an unforgettable show. Spend an evening stargazing at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory or take a tour of the historic Jack Daniel’s Distillery. For a shopping spree, head to Opry Mills, where you’ll find a wide array of stores and entertainment options. Nashville truly has something for everyone!
Food and Drink in Nashville:
Nashville, TN, is a culinary haven, offering some of the best and top-rated food and drink options in the country. Known for its iconic hot chicken, a visit to Hattie B’s or Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack is a must. For a taste of Southern comfort food, head to The Loveless Cafe for their famous biscuits and fried chicken. Foodies will also appreciate the inventive cuisine at The Catbird Seat, where the ever-changing tasting menu is a culinary adventure. Enjoy a craft cocktail at the stylish Patterson House or savor local brews at Yazoo Brewing Company. For a sweet treat, don’t miss the legendary pies at Arnold’s Country Kitchen. With its rich food culture, Nashville promises a delightful gastronomic experience.
Sunday, November 3
•1:00 – 4:00 pm: Technical Trade Presentations - these are presentations by commercial exhibitors on their products and/or services in which more can be learned at their booth(s) inside the exhibit hall. There are 2 tracks:
Track I: Advancing Research Through Innovation
Track II: Facility Enhancements to Maximize Performance
•2:00 – 3:00 pm: National Meeting Orientation – this is for any first-time attendees, new members, and/or any international attendees. This session will provide best practices to take full advantage of the national meeting and everything it has to offer.
•5:00 – 6:30 pm: Opening General Session
•Welcome from AALAS President, Dr. Bob Quinn
•AALAS Awards Presentations
• Introduction of the incoming AALAS President, Dr. Jim Macy
• Keynote speaker Dr. Robert Dysko: “75 Years of AALAS”
• Exhibit Hall Ribbon Cutting at 6:30 pm followed by the Welcome Reception inside the Exhibit Hall
Monday, November 4 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Charles C Hunter Lecture
•“Kangaroo Wrangling – Managing Clinical and Conservations Research at a Zoo”
• Presented by Dr. Louden Wright from the Nashville Zoo
Tuesday, November 5
•11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Charles River Ethics and Animal Welfare Lecture
• The 3Hs Initiative: Housing, Handling and Habituation Methods for Laboratory Rodents
• Presented by Professor Emma S J Robinson, Professor of Psychopharmacology, Bristol Neuroscience in the UK
•11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Wallace P Rowe Lecture
• The Challenges and Mysteries of the Opportunistic Bacterium, Corynebacterium bovis
• Presented by Dr. Neil S Lipman from Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Institute
•4:00 – 5:00 pm: Poster Session Reception
•Chat with poster presenters
•Poster awards
Sunday – Thursday: Career Center
Wednesday, November 6 at 6:30 – 9:00 pm: AALAS Foundation Live Auction & Appreciation Reception
•“The Grand Ole Opry” is the reception theme – plan on attending and dressing as your favorite Opry star!
•Veterinarian Job Fair sponsored by ACLAM, APV, and ASLAP (See mobile app for companies participating)
•Inside this room, there will be scheduled times when companies with Veterinarian job openings will be available to meet with any potential candidates.
By Robert C. Dysko, DVM, DACLAM
As you may be aware, should you be attending the Opening Session of this year’s National Meeting you will be subjected to the rantings of an unstable genius – me! I was most graciously chosen by President Quinn to serve as your Keynote Speaker and to deliver a presentation on the history of AALAS that would be both informative and entertaining. I humbly accepted his offer, and I’m now working on at least partially achieving one of those two goals.
That upcoming talk and this essay homework from the AALAS Office are giving me the opportunity to think about what this association has meant to me and to ponder on where it might be headed in the future. AALAS was the very first organization that I joined within our special field and later that year I attended my first National Meeting (Cincinnati,1984) and gave my first national presentation. Since then I have looked forward to the National Meeting every year (I’ve only missed 3) for both the networking and continuing education opportunities. I served on the Program Committee in 1994-95 (when terms were only 1-year long), and then a Strategic Planning Committee in 199697. But my real activity with AALAS began in 2004 with two 2-year terms on the Program Committee, followed by a request to consider running for Vice-President Elect. I threw my hat in the ring, and surprisingly found my life consumed by this fine association for the next 4+ years. I had a steep learning curve having not
served on the Board of Trustees (BOT), and I think I managed it adequately, but a word to the next generation of AALAS leaders: I would look to sit on the BOT before serving as Vice President-Elect if I had to do it over again. This route gives you time to understand the general governance approach before you’re actually serving on the Executive Committee. You also get to work with and appreciate the AALAS Central Office staff, a very important part of our association that we really don’t fully recognize when we are volunteering locally. And you also gain an understanding of the many constituencies that comprise AALAS, and the committees within AALAS, for which you may not have known what their acronyms meant. Because what I learned during my 4 years was that AALAS is truly an “umbrella” association, and a fairly unique one at that. Membership is extended through all levels of the animal research enterprise, including to the vendors of the equipment that we use and of the animals we care for, and across the entire planet. In fact, Global Partner membership for like-minded international associations was instituted when I was on the Executive Committee.
In reviewing the history of AALAS, it quickly becomes evident that it has been an extremely impactful organization. At the risk of stealing my own thunder from the Keynote Address, AALAS has been the genesis for many aspects of our field that are second nature to us now, including the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, AAALAC International, and the certification of animal care technicians and animal resource managers. And it continues; for example, the active Exhibition Hall at our National Meeting continues to serve as a forum for accessing the technological updates that impact our professional lives.
As for where AALAS should go in the future, I feel that as long as the historic spirit of inclusion remains a core feature of our “umbrella” association, it will do just fine. My time has passed for leading this organization, and as the Millard Fillmore of AALAS Presidents, I really shouldn’t be throwing out any proposals for future directions. But I know that true leaders will put themselves into positions to serve on committees and be nominated for elected offices, and that AALAS will continue to flourish as a result.
And with that, I humbly conclude my remarks, and ask that you join me in Nashville on November 3rd for what I hope will be a fun and educational keynote speech on AALAS at 75 years young. And if you want, you should probably stay for the rest of the meeting.
AALAS is thrilled to mark its 75th anniversary!
In the pages ahead, we encourage you to join us in reflecting on the remarkable contributions and milestones our members, volunteers, committees, and leadership have achieved over the years. We are incredibly grateful to all our members for their dedication and contributions in advancing responsible laboratory animal care and use to benefit people and animals. We hope you enjoy this special section and look forward to another 75 years!
Current President
2024 Robert H Quinn, DVM, DACLAM
2023 Pamela A Straeter, CMAR, RLATG
2022 Marc S Hulin, DVM, DACLAM
2021 Douglas K. Taylor, DVM, DACLAM
2020 Tracy Parker, MBA, CMAR, RLATG
2019 Morag Mackay, RLATG
2018 Jennifer C. Smith, DVM, DACLAM
2017 Paige Ebert, MBA, CMAR
2016 Laura A. Conour, DVM, DACLAM
2015 Cindy A. Buckmaster, PhD, CMAR, RLATG
2014 Scott A. Mischler, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
2013 Kim E. Saunders, DVM, DACLAM
2012 Kathy Laber, DVM, MS, DACLAM
2011 Robert C. Dysko, DVM, DACLAM
2010 Deborah L. Donohoe, BA, RLATG
2009 Scott E. Perkins, VMD, DACLAM
2008 Christian Newcomer, VMD, DACLAM
2007 Bruce Kennedy, MS, CMAR, RLATG
2006 Mark Suckow, DVM, DACLAM
2005 V.H. Price, DVM
2004 Gail A. Heidbrink, RLATG
2003 Cynthia Pekow, DVM, DACLAM
Incoming President
2025 James D Macy, MS, DVM, DACLAM
Past Presidents
2002 Craig Frisk, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
2001 Richard C. Simmonds, DVM, MS, DACLAM
2000 Robert H. Weichbrod, PhD, MBA, LATG
1999 George W. Irving, III, DVM, MS, DACLAM
1998 Mary S. Bean, PhD, LATG
1997 Lynn Anderson, DVM, DACLAM
1996 H. Hugh Harroff, Jr., DVM, DACLAM
1995 Jerry Fineg, DVM
1994 William S. Webster, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1993 D. Richard Knauff, DVM
1992 Gerald L. Van Hoosier, DVM, DACLAM
1991 James A. Alford, Jr., MBA
1990 Ronald M. McLaughlin, DVM, DACLAM
1989 J. Derrell Clark, DVM, DACLAM
1988 Thomas E. Darby
1987 Dennis M. Stark, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1986 Richard C. Simmonds, DVM, MS, DACLAM
1985 B. Taylor Bennett, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1984 Harry Rozmiarek, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1983 Steele F. Mattingly, DVM, DACLAM
1982 Sally Newell Papp, DVM
1981 John B. Mulder, DVM, DACLAM
1980 Joseph E. Wagner, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1979 Paul J. Ernest, LATG
1978 Charles C. Hunter, DVM
1977 Robert A. Whitney, DVM, DACLAM
1976 Joseph H. Galloway, DVM
1975 Keith L. Kraner, DVM, DACLAM
1974 Bruce H. Ewald, DVM, DACLAM
1973 Gene A. Bingham, DVM, DACLAM
1972 James E. Corbin, PhD
1971 Roger D. Estep, DVM
1970 Edward C. Melby, Jr., DVM, DACLAM
1969 Geoffrey H. Lord, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1968 William I. Gay, DVM, DACLAM
1967 Harold M. Kaplan, PhD
1966 Orland A. Soave, DVM, DACLAM
1965 Bernard F. Trum, DVM
1964 Robert J. Flynn, DVM, DACLAM
1963 Lauritz R. Christensen, PhD
1961-1962 Melvin M. Rabstein, DVM
1959-1960 Bennett J. Cohen, DVM, PhD
1957-1958 Jules S. Cass, DVM, DACLAM
1956 Charles Slanetz, PhD
1950-1955 Nathan R. Brewer, DVM, PhD, DACLAM
1951
Proceedings of the Animal Care Panel (1950 meeting) published.
1955
The ACP recognizes affiliate organizations. The ACP grows to 200 members. The ACP annual meeting held for the first time outside Chicago in New York City.
1957
Animal Care Panel Research and Educational Foundation authorized.
1953
Animal Care Panel (ACP) incorporated.
Five Chicago-area veterinarians organize the first national meeting of the Animal Care Panel (now the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science). Seventy-five people attended.
Dr. Nathan Brewer elected first president of the Animal Care Panel.
1956
Quarterly publication of the Proceedings of the Animal Care Panel authorized. Publication started in 1958. At the ACP annual meeting two commercial and one institutional lab animal rodent breeder present their methods of producing “specific pathogen free” animals.
1988
AALAS adopts its first long-range strategic plan.
1958
First branch of Animal Care Panel approved as the Metropolitan New York Branch.
1983 AALAS office installs computer system.
1986
AALAS purchases 7,000 square foot facility and relocates to Cordova, TN. Computerized animal technician examination grading service introduced.
1995
AALAS grows to 4,452 members.
1977
AALAS’s Research and Educational Foundation Committee dissolved. New Awards and Educational Committee (now known as the AALAS Foundation Board) appointed.
1999
1992
Name of AALAS Bulletin changed to Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science.
Record attendance of 3,880 at National Meeting in Baltimore. AALAS publishes its first page on the world wide web.
The Animal Research Education and Awareness (AREA) Program was launched in conjunction with the AALAS National Meeting introducing high school science students and teachers to laboratory animal science.
1991
National testing service employed to develop and administer technician examinations; begins giving exams in 1992. AALAS Bulletin expanded and a section for refereed papers included.
1993
First class graduates from the two-year continuing education program of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Management (ILAM).
1998
AALAS office moves to a new building in Memphis, TN. The AALAS Foundation became a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The 50th Anniversary Celebration begins at the 1999 National Meeting and culminates in the 50th Anniversary Gala at the San Diego National Meeting in 2000.
AALAS has 8,994 members, 48 branches and 19 affiliate organizations.
1961
Animal Technician Certification Board of ACP established. First certification exam given with 70 technicians certified. Animal Care Panel office established in Argonne, IL. First ACP newsletter published, the ACP Bulletin.
1963
Animal Care Panel produces the first Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care. All subsequent editions of the Guide have been produced by Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources NRC/NAS. Name of publication Proceedings of the Animal Care Panel changed to Laboratory Animal Care and the number of issues increased to six per year. The ACP annual meeting expands to a four-day conference. The ACP appoints an Animal Facilities Accreditation Board.
1962
ACP office moved to Joliet, IL.
1975
AALAS celebrates its 25th anniversary. AALAS establishes Technician Branch Representative system.
1966
The ACP has 1,911 members and 21 branches. Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (now Animal Welfare Act) passed.
1964
The Animal Facilities Accreditation Board becomes a separate organization known as the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC, now the Association of Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International).
1969
1971
Name of journal Laboratory Animal Care changed to Laboratory Animal Science.
1973
Annual AALAS meeting is a five-day event with over 200 speakers. Use of nationwide standardized technician examinations implemented for Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT), and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) certification.
2001
Certified Manager of Animal Resources (CMAR) established.
2005
Name of Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science is changed to the Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Science (JAALAS).
AALAS Committee on Laboratory Animal Technicians (now Committee on Technician Awareness and Development) established.
2003
AALAS Learning Library (ALL) launched.
Name of Laboratory Animal Science changed to Comparative Medicine.
1967
The name of the ACP changed to the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). The first training manual for technicians published, the Manual for Laboratory Animal Technicians. Regional Examination Boards established to assist the Animal Technician Certification Board. AALAS has 2,300 members.
2013 Laboratory Animal Science Professional (LAS Pro) launches. A magazine filled with reliable, practical information, including the latest developments and strategies in laboratory animal science.
2019
AALAS launched the Open Forum community on April 30, 2019.
The 75th Anniversary Celebration begins at the 2024 National Meeting in Nashville. The AALAS Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new "Speak Up & Reach Out" initiative.
2007
The first Grants for Laboratory Animal Science (GLAS) grants were awarded.
2018
First Ben Cohen Branch Management Summit held in Memphis.
2023
The AALAS Learning Library (ALL) celebrates 20 years. AALAS membership at the end of 2023 was 15,070. There are 105 CMAR candidates in the program and 557 Active CMAR.
Meeting DatesLocation
75thNov. 3–7, 2024Nashville, TN
74thOct. 22–26, 2023Salt Lake City, UT
73rdOct. 23–27, 2022Louisville, KY
72ndOct. 17–21, 2021Kansas City/Hybrid
71stOct. 25–December 31, 2020Virtual
70thOct. 13–17, 2019Denver, CO
69thOct. 28–Nov 1, 2018Baltimore, MD
68thOct. 15–19, 2017Austin, TX
67thOct. 30–Nov 3, 2016Charlotte, NC
66thNov. 1–5, 2015Phoenix, AZ
65thOct. 19–23, 2014San Antonio, TX
64thOct. 27–31, 2013Baltimore, MD
63rdNov. 4–8, 2012Minneapolis, MN
62ndOct. 2–6, 2011San Diego, CA
61stOct. 10–14, 2010Atlanta, GA
60thNov. 8–12, 2009Denver, CO
59thNov. 9–13, 2008Indianapolis, IN
58thOct. 14–18, 2007Charlotte, NC
57thOct. 15–19, 2006Salt Lake City, UT
56thNov. 6–10, 2005St. Louis, MO
55thOct. 17–21, 2004Tampa, FL
54thOct. 12–16, 2003Seattle, WA
53rdOct. 27–31, 2002San Antonio, TX
52ndOct. 21–25, 2001Baltimore, MD
51stNov. 5–9, 2000San Diego, CA
50thNov. 7–11, 1999Indianapolis, IN
49thOct. 18–22, 1998Cincinnati, OH
48thNov. 16–20, 1997Anaheim, CA
47thNov. 3–7, 1996Minneapolis, MN
46thOct. 15–19, 1995Baltimore, MD
45thOct. 16–20, 1994Pittsburgh, PA
44thNov. 14–18, 1993Nashville, TN
43rdNov. 1–5, 1992Anaheim, CA
42ndOct. 20–24, 1991Buffalo, NY
41stOct. 14–18, 1990Milwaukee, WI
40thOct. 29–Nov. 2, 1989Little Rock, AR
39thOct. 10–13, 1988Detroit, MI
38thNov. 8–12, 1987Denver, CO
Meeting DatesLocation
37thOct. 5–10, 1986Chicago, IL
36thNov. 3–8, 1985Baltimore, MD
35thOct. 28–Nov. 2, 1984Cincinnati, OH
34thNov. 6–11, 1983San Antonio, TX
33rdOct. 3–8, 1982Washington, DC
32ndSept. 20–25, 1981Salt Lake City, UT
31stOct. 5–10, 1980Indianapolis, IN
30thSept. 16–21, 1979Atlanta, GA
29thSept. 24–29, 1978New York, NY
28thOct. 2–7, 1977Anaheim, CA
27thNov. 7–12, 1976Houston, TX
26thNov. 16–20, 1975Boston, MA
25thOct. 21–25, 1974Cincinnati, OH
24thOct. 1–5, 1973Miami, FL
23rdOct. 16–20, 1972St. Louis, MO
22ndOct. 11–15, 1971New York, NY
21stNov. 1–6, 1970Chicago, IL
20thOct. 13–17, 1969Dallas, TX
19thOct. 21–25, 1968Las Vegas, NV
18thOct. 2–6, 1967Washington, DC
17thOct. 26–30, 1966Chicago, IL
16thNov. 15–19, 1965Philadelphia, PA
15thSept. 21–25, 1964New York, NY
14thOct. 1–4, 1963Los Angeles, CA
13thOct. 2–5, 1962 Chicago, IL
12thSept. 27–29, 1961Boston, MA
11thOct. 26–28, 1960St. Louis, MO
10thOct. 29–31, 1959Washington, DC
9thDec. 3–5, 1958Chicago, IL
8thNov. 7–9, 1957San Francisco, CA
7thNov. 29–Dec. 1, 1956Chicago, IL
6thDec. 1–2, 1955Chicago, IL
5thDec. 11–12, 1954Chicago, IL
4thDec. 2–3, 1953Chicago, IL
3rdDec. 3–4, 1952Chicago, IL
2ndNov. 29–30, 1951Chicago, IL
1stNov. 28, 1950Chicago, IL
Our new campaign celebrates our members and honors their hard work as we celebrate our 75th anniversary. Over the past year, AALAS conducted a campaign called #IAmAALAS, which invited members to share about their role in Laboratory Animal Science and why they are proud to be AALAS members. These personal stories and experiences highlight the diversity and dedication within our community and help to celebrate our accomplishments and inspire the next generation.
Thank you for making AALAS great!
District 1
Metro New York
New England
Northern Mountain
Southern New England
Upstate New York
States: CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI & VT
District 2
Delaware Valley
New Jersey
Three Rivers States: DE, NJ, PA & WV
District 3
Greater Virginia Branch
National Capital Area States: DC, MD & VA
In 1958, the New York Metropolitan Branch’s formation was approved, marking the beginning of local branches. Since then many more branches have been added spanning geographically across the United States. The local branches are now organized into 8 districts.
District 4
Appalachian
Florida
Mid-South
Research Triangle
Southeastern States: AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, PR, SC & TN
District 5
Ohio
Indiana
Kentucky
Michigan States: IN, KY, MI & OH
District 6
Central Illinois
Chicago
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska States: IL, IA, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI & WY
If you are not currently a member of an AALAS branch, but would like to join, check the branch list to see which branch(es) you’re interested in, then contact the branch president or e-mail us and we will see that someone from the appropriate branch gets in touch with you.
A group of individuals from a specific geographic area not currently represented by an AALAS branch can be recognized as a branch of AALAS if they meet the following conditions:
•Have a minimum of 10 branch members who are current AALAS national members in good standing
•Have a proposed branch constitution and bylaws
District 7
Kansas City
Louisiana
Mid-Missouri
Mile-High
Oklahoma
Texas
States: AR, CO, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK & TX
District 8
Arizona
Mountain West
Northern California
Northern Rocky Mountain
Oregon
Sacramento Valley
San Diego
Southern California
Washington
States: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT & WA
•Elect a proposed slate of officers to conduct the business of the branch Successfully petition the AALAS Board of Trustees (BOT) for recognition as a branch of AALAS
If you meet the above criteria and would like to form a new AALAS branch, contact your district trustees and the AALAS office. An AALAS staff member will provide you with the information necessary to proceed in your petition. February 1, each Branch must submit their officer roster as part of their compliance requirement.
By May 1, branches must provide a current Branch membership roster, including contact information for members, to the AALAS National Office along with a current copy of their Branch Constitution and Bylaws.
The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), previously known as the Animal Care Panel (ACP) began in the early 1950’s. At this time, only a national organization existed. In early 1957, under the guidance of Dr. L Royal Christensen and such loyal supporters as Neville Cummings, the concept of localized branches gathered considerable support. The national organization was then only six or seven years old and was still run by the original board members, many of whom were not ready yet to embrace the idea of local branches. That year, under the leadership of Orland Soave, the name was changed to The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).
At the 1958 meeting in Chicago, Dr. Christensen submitted a proposal as well as an application complete with a constitution and bylaws for the New York Metropolitan Branch. Both were approved and New York Metropolitan Branch Animal Care Panel (NYMBACP) was in business. (Credit is due to the American Association for Microbiology, whose branch bylaws served as a model for ours.) Charter Officers of the New York Branch included Dr. L. Royal Christensen - President, Clyde Mille -Vice President, and Elihu Bond -Veterinary Consultant. Charter Council Members included: Merril Chase Rockefeller, John Nelson Rockefeller, Floyd Poling, Industrial Washing Machines, Walter Sapanski, Public Health Research of the City of New York, and John W. Cumming. The council, represented by academia, government and commerce, extended its initial membership to all patrons involved in laboratory animal science from Boston to upstate New York to Washington D.C. Although this broad
September 25, 1957
Dear Member,
A number of us in the Metropolitan area have felt that formation of a local branch of the Animal Care Panel would be a desirable project at this time. We feel that the Animal Care Panel has progressed to the point where there is a need for participation by the animal technician, the laboratory technician using animals and others, at a local level. Members of these groups are ordinarily unable to attend the annual meeting. Further; the many problems that arise in the day to day operation of an animal colony or the use of animals in the laboratory are not usually matters for presentation at the annual meetings, but such matters are entirely suitable for discussion at local branch meetings. A local branch may also be influential in establishing training courses, setting up standards for competence, and in general acting as a meeting places and forum for discussion of all matters best handled on a local
membership base was short-lived, it paved the way for the establishment of more localized branches across the US.
All early meetings of the NYMBACP were held at the NYU Medical School. As time went on invitations were extended to hold meetings at Rockefeller, Cornell, Mt. Sinai Columbia, and Albert Einstein. The branch also held some meetings in pharmaceutical companies in New Jersey. Our first few installation dinners were held at the Henry Hudson Hotel on 57th Street. This had been the site of the 1953 National Meeting, the first outside of Chicago, the first in a hotel, and the first to have exhibits. Coincidently, at the same time our branch was establishing itself, (and a couple years after the establishment of AAALAC) the Animal Welfare Act was passed by congress.
The responsibility for the enforcement of the provisions detailed in the AWA was placed with the USDA. Let it be noted, up until this point their expertise was almost exclusively involved in animals raised for food or clothing. This would be the first time that the USDA would be responsible for the inspection of all research facilities (with qualifying species). Ahead of their time, the veterinarians, veterinary technicians, husbandry staff, and other associated caretakers associated with the ACP, AALAS, and AALAC laid the groundwork for the organizations we are part of today, and established rules and regulations to protect the research subjects and personnel that address research queries across the globe.
By:
John
Cumming,
President (retired), Fredrick’s Distributing Co. John Salig, Training Coordinator (retired), Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
or regional level. I do not think the Animal Care Panel will fulfill its original aim or realize its full potentialities unless an opportunity is given for active participation by the animal technician, using the term in its broadest sense. If you are interested in the formation of a local branch and in helping develop its aims and programs I would like to invite you to a meeting of the members of the Animal Care Panel in this area to discuss the organization of a local branch. The meeting will be held in the auditorium of N.Y.U Bellevue Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, at 7 P.M. on October 10. Please indicate on the enclosed cared whether or not you will be able to attend.
Sincerely,
L.R. Christensen
Berg Institute, Science Services N.Y.U-Bellevue Medical Center 550 First Avenue, New York 16, New York
Leverage our long history of colony breeding and other expert services.
The AALAS Global Partners Program, which began in 2011, allows nonprofit organizations outside of the U.S. with similar missions to AALAS to apply for global partnerships. The Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (ASCAL/CALAS) was the first Global Partner. Presently, there are six Global Partners in total.
Australian & New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association - ANZLAA
The Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association is made up of members with a professional commitment to the care, production and use of animals in research and teaching in Australia and New Zealand.
Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science - CALAS/ACSAL
The Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS/ACSAL) is composed of a multidisciplinary group of people and institutions concerned with the care and use of laboratory animals in research, teaching and testing. Membership includes veterinarians, physicians, researchers, administrators, technicians and many others.
Institute of Animal Technology - IAT
This British organization develops training courses for animal technicians, produces publications, and has introduced exam-
inations which were the forerunner of today’s internationally recognized qualifications.
Laboratory Animal Scientists’ Association of India- LASAI Laboratory Animal Scientists’ Association of India is a national organization dedicated to advancing laboratory animal science by promoting the ethical care and use of laboratory animals in biomedical and veterinary research.
Singapore Association for Laboratory Animal ScienceSALAS
The Singapore Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SALAS) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2004 as a premier association for the education and development of various professionals in the field of laboratory animal science.
Thailand Association for Laboratory Animal ScienceTALAS
The Thai Association for Laboratory Animal Science (TALAS) was found in 2001. Today the association is composed of Individuals or Institutions concerned with care and use of laboratory animals, including technicians, veterinarians, scientists, physicians, researchers, administrators, and many others interested in the proper care and use of animals in research, teaching, and testing.
Nathan Brewer
Describe Some of the Most Important Changes in Technology and Animal Care.
Probably the most important changes were: 1. Those of housing (better ventilation and temperature control, more space per animal), 2. Better animals made available by knowledge obtained from germ-free animal research, 3. Better care of animals because of better educated animal caretakers, 4. Increased appreciation of animal caretaker improvement by institutional authorities.
What Were One or Two of the Major Events That Changed Laboratory Animal Science?
The establishment of organizations dedicated to the improvement of laboratory animal care. The knowledge gained from research involving germ-free animals.
Nathan R. Brewer, DVM, PhD, first AALAS President and a founding father of AALAS.
Robert Flynn
Describe Some of the Most Important Changes in Technology and Animal Care.
The most important changes in technology and animal care were all related to the development of colonies of mice and rats free of most parasites and pathogens. The development of small, pilot, germ-free colonies showed that rodents could live, for at least a short time, without a bacterial flora. Next, germ-free animals were given a bacterial “cocktail” to enhance their ability to live in the non-sterile world. From there, small colonies of mice and rats, free of most pathogens (“specific pathogen-free”), were developed.
What Were One or Two of the Major Events That Changed Laboratory Animal Science?
The major event that changed laboratory animal science (from my point of view) was the development of large commercial colonies of laboratory mice and rats free of all parasites and most pathogens.
Robert J. Flynn, DVM, 1964 AALAS President
William Gay
What is Your Fondest Memory of AALAS?
“Fondest” means most pleasant to me. First probably was working with Joe Garvey and Bennett Cohen. They were both low-key negotiators, pleasant and polite. Very few played a more effective role in starting the Animal Care Panel. Second was starting the NCAB AALAS in 1960-1962. Charlie Durbin, the first president operated like Cohen & Garvey, and the local businesses gave us great support. The response to early National Meetings was also most rewarding, especially the commercial companies’ support.
What Were One or Two of the Major Events That Changed Laboratory Animal Science?
The two major events were development of training programs to provide professional/technical personnel who could make a difference in quality animal care, and the second was federallegislation beginning in 1966. The first was the work initiated by the laboratory animal community to provide properly trained professional and technical staff. The improvements in animal health care and technical training were well underway before 1966. When the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine had been formed, local branches were training technical staff. These two initiatives by the laboratory animal community have had more to do with the quality of research animal care today than any other event in recent history. The second was the USDA Animal Welfare Act of 1966, 1970, and 1976. This legislation put the biomedical community managers on notice that there would be public oversight of their use of animals and that they needed to support the best possible programs. Thus money became available at all levels of support to build the facilities and support professional and technical training to meet that need.
William I. Gay, DVM, AALAS President 1968
Edward Melby
What is Your Fondest Memory of AALAS?
Without question, my fondest memory is of the outstanding individuals I was privileged to meet and work with during the formative days of The Animal Care Panel/AALAS. Perhaps the most meaningful and consequential activity involved Roger Estep shortly after his election as president of AALAS. At that time
I was involved with AAALAC as chairman of the Council on Accreditation. Roger offered to set up several “get acquainted” meetings in the D.C. area. One of the first such activities was a meeting with Dr. Ronald Lamont-Havers, Associate Director for Extramural Affairs at NIH. Chuck McPherson, then with the Animal Resources Branch at NIH accompanied Roger and me. Although unplanned in advance, an opening in the conversation permitted me to make an unplanned suggestion to Dr. Lamont-Havers that the NIH might require institutions receiving support to abide by the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The new regulation was subsequently enacted. (Editor’s note—this was the genesis of the NIH/PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals).
What Challenges did you Face That Were Unique to That Time Period?
Prior to enactment of the Animal Welfare Act, there were essentially no “teeth” to stimulate institutions to seriously improve their animal care facilities and programs. Those of us who became involved had to basically demonstrate to our respective institutions the importance to animal research of disease prevention and control, husbandry, nutrition, etc., while concurrently mounting our own competitive research programs to attain recognition and acceptance by our peers.
What Were One or Two of the Major Events That Changed Laboratory Animal Science?
Introduction of cesarean origin barrier sustained rodents. Implementation by the National Institutes of Health of the policy requiring institutions to adhere to requirements outlined in the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.”
Edward C. Melby, Jr., DVM, AALAS
President 1970
A. Bingham
Describe Some of the Most Important Changes in Technology and Animal Care.
Better anesthetics and analgesics and more extensive use of them. The continuing better understanding and identification of pathogens of laboratory animals. Certainly, the development of the ELISA was instrumental in these gains. The development of the transgenic and knock-out technology and cryopreservation are important technological gains that have moved biomedical research forward with important gains.
Gene A. Bingham, DVM, AALAS President 1973
Keith Kraner
What is Your Fondest Memory of AALAS?
On a personal level, my fondest memory of AALAS is of the year of my service as AALAS National President in 1975. It was clearly one of the most enjoyable experiences of my 42-year career in veterinary medicine. On a more global level, I would have to rate the privilege of associating with so many wonderful, enthusiastic and dedicated professional, technical, and administrative persons over the years. Our AALAS National Headquarters staff was superb in handling the business aspects of our young, but rapidly growing, organization. The people at USDA and NIH were eager and willing to work with us and listen to our concerns and advice on the evolving regulatory aspects of laboratory animal medicine.
In my opinion, there were clearly two major developments that have had enormous influence on laboratory animal science. The first is the work of pioneer commercial laboratory animal breeders who have used the most advanced scientific and technical concepts and methods available to provide us with the magnificent laboratory animals we have today. The second event was the passage of the original Animal Welfare Act, as well as its later amended versions. This legislation was the lever used in many, many institutions to get the resources needed to upgrade the facilities and personnel caring for laboratory animals and to rein in some of the unacceptable methods used by a few investigators.
Keith L. Kraner, DVM, AALAS President 1975
What is Your Fondest Memory of AALAS?
Attending the annual meetings. My first AALAS meeting was held in Chicago in 1966. I thought it was fantastic. I learned more during that five-day period than in any other comparable period in my life. Annual meetings always provided tremendous learning opportunities and the chance to see old friends and colleagues and to meet new ones.
J. Derrell Clark, DVM, 1989 AALAS President
These recollections are from the 50 Years of Laboratory Animal Science (50th Anniversary Book) published in 1999.
By Roger Orcutt, MS, PhD
While working under Russell W. Schaedler, MD for my PhD, I learned he was the first to isolate autochthonous aka “normal” bacteria of the mouse, and then put them back into axenic or so-called “germfree” mice in order to restore that host to its homeostatic state, i.e., to make it “normal” again.
This was very important to laboratory animal suppliers because they soon learned that often, when they derived their “dirty” mouse lines into the germfree state and then removed them from their isolators into barrier production rooms, they would become colonized by bacteria from the environment that would grow uninhibited in the ex-germfree mice causing death because the “normal” microbiota, which had evolved with the mouse over eons of evolution, had been removed.
Numerous animal suppliers therefore asked Dr. Schaedler to supply them with members of the mouse’s microbiota in order to colonize their germfree nucleus stocks used to supply their production rooms so they would be protected from so-called “opportunis-
tic” bacterial infections, a phenomenon called “colonization resistance”.
Dr. Henry L. Foster, founder and President of Charles River, asked Dr. Schaedler for some isolates, as did scientists from Carworth (largest supplier at the time), Harlan, Simonson, Spraque-Dawley, etc. As Dr. Schaedler would isolate various members of the gut microbiota of the mouse, he would send them along to these people, but no two suppliers ever got the exact same mixture, so they all had what they called their “Schaedler cocktail”.
As I was finishing up my PhD work, I was offered a job at Charles River. Thus was my entrance into the field of laboratory animal science and the AALAS.
Since there were so many versions of “The Schaedler Cocktail” at the companies supplying the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with mice and rats, Dr. Joseph Mayo (a subsequent Griffin Award recipient) asked me to develop a new standard cocktail which he would require all his suppliers to use. My only limitation was that the microflora could not exceed 8 bacteria, which was the
maximum number being used by most suppliers. I named the new cocktail the “Altered Schaedler Flora (ASF)”.1
Not only did the ASF more closely approximate the microbiota of “normal” mice, but it also made it much easier to detect the most common isolator contaminants, namely staphylococci and blunt-ended endospore-forming rods, with just a microscope.
For 15 years Dr. Schaedler worked with the world famous Dr. Rene Dubos at the Rockefeller University, who discovered gramicidin, the first antibacterial agent. Dr. Dubos worked alongside the even more famous Dr. Karl Landsteiner at the Rockefeller, and when Landsteiner passed away, Dubos got his laboratory scale. When Dubos died, he left Landsteiner’s scale to Schaedler and when Schaedler died, he left it to me, his first PhD graduate.
would like it. The director asked the NIH Dept. of Transfusion Medicine if they wanted it, and the reply came back they “definitely” wanted it. The Division of Intramural Research then donated $13,000 for the display, so the museum would not have to wait for the next fiscal year to begin work on it. It is now up and shows Landsteiner, then Dubos, then Schaedler, and then myself and it thanks me for donating this piece of history in loving memory of Russell W. Schaedler, MD.
I am over 80 years old now and am so glad I was able to find the perfect home for Landsteiner’s scale before I cross over to the other side.
Roger Orcutt, MS, PhD, AALAS Life Member, is currently retired and living in New York
Landsteiner is the “Father of Transfusion Medicine” by virtue of discovering the major blood groups, thereby making transfusions possible. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1930 for this discovery.
Since I didn’t believe any one person should have Landsteiner’s scale, I asked the NIH Stetten Museum if they
1. Dewhirst FE, Chien CC, Paster BJ, Ericson RL, Orcutt RP, Schauer DB, Fox JG. 1999. Phylogeny of the defined murine microbiota: Altered Schaedler Flora. App. Environ. Micro., 65 (8):3287–3292.
By Norman B. Guilloud, DVM
Ihave been an active, participating AALAS member since 1965 so it seems I am qualified to offer a historical perspective relating to the things I have seen and experienced throughout my career in Laboratory Animal Sciences (LAS) for the LAS Pro publication and celebrating 75 years of AALAS.
After graduating from Texas A&M’s vet school in 1960 and two years of private practice I was drafted into the US Army in 1962 and sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This was the beginning of my 62-year career in LAS as a consulting and/or an attending veterinarian in a variety of facilities, universities, and pharmaceutical companies tending to a multitude of research animal models and species.
As I reflect back over these years and the many places, people, and animal models I have worked with so many things have changed. For instance, note the picture of me attending to an orangutan named Lada during my work as Attending Veterinarian (AV) at Yerkes Primate Center 1964-1968 (then located in Orange Park, FL and later moved to Emory University, Atlanta, GA). Lada had a tension pneumothorax and pay close attention to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which was common in those days back in the sixties. We certainly didn’t know then what we know now. There are many photographic examples from those days of folks working with primates and other species without gloves, masks, face shields and all
the other precautions required for PPE as it is commonly referred to today.
Then fast forward to just five years ago when I assisted with a juvenile alligator project at an AAALAC accredited institution and was in full PPE that has now become an industry standard within the LAS research community. My how things have changed. Throughout my sixty-two years in this industry, I have seen many changes in techniques, pharmaceuticals, animal handling and housing equipment, PPE requirements, training, and educational opportunities that are now more readily available and more easily accessible through modern technology. The 3R’s of Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement are in full force and new advancements are being made every year that have a direct impact on the variety of animals we use in our research endeavors today. We have seen the successful use of transgenic pig organs in human xenografts extending their lives by days, weeks, and months that may have increased positive impacts on human organ transplant needs in the immediate future.
As many of you prepare to attend the 75th annual AALAS Meeting in Nashville (November 3-7) I will leave you with the following memory from the early years of AALAS National Meetings. While AV at Yerkes I believe the first national AALAS meeting I attended was the 17th meeting in 1966 held again in Chicago. There were about 1,500 attendees that year. Chicago had become the go to meeting spot in the early years of AALAS as five of the “Founding Fathers of AALAS” were veterinarians from five Chicago research institutions in those early days.
The annual AALAS meeting had been held 10 out of 17 years at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago that was originally built in 1916, but this was 1966.
In fifty years since its initial construction in 1916, the hotel condition had deteriorated drastically from its original heyday, and it was constructed without air conditioning relying on the sea breeze for cooling. In 1966 the old hotel was in serious disrepair and falling apart everywhere. Many sections
were closed as we tried to navigate throughout the facility. Jimmy Hoffa and his Teamsters associates were routinely seen around the premises, and many maintenance problems went without attention or repair. The meeting attendees could see that there were serious issues with this meeting venue and things were in unbelievably bad shape. The attendees began to call the meeting “The Last of The Last of The Last Chicago AALAS Meetings” as it became clear that the building was not going to be able to meet the growing needs of an expanding AALAS organization. The next year the new hotel owners filed for bankruptcy and the hotel was finally torn down in 1970 and the rest is history as they say.
As AALAS celebrates at its 75th annual meeting in Nashville, TN may we all take a moment and raise a glass and say, “Cheers to another 75 years of continuing progress and education within our Laboratory Animal Sciences Community”!
Norman B. Guilloud, DVM, has not retired completely yet, but will someday soon, and is living on his farm in New Jersey. He notes that he “saw a beautiful bald eagle yesterday by our lake”. He has been an AALAS member since 1965 and is currently a Life Member.
The AALAS Grants for Laboratory Animal Science program (GLAS), established in 2006, is a shining star for advancing research and knowledge in the field of laboratory animal science. As we in AALAS celebrate our 75th Anniversary year it is not difficult to imagine that our Founding Fathers at some point envisioned such an outstanding program, whose far reaching impact would so positively influence our organization and enhance the fields of both laboratory animal science and biomedical research. Since the first grants were awarded 17 years ago in May, 2007, the GLAS program has grown at an unprecedented rate for our organization and has established AALAS as an international leader in the funding of laboratory animal science research.
With the generous support of the AALAS Board of Trustees, this outstanding program has successfully funded nearly 100 research studies for awards totaling over $2,000,000 from 2007 through 2024 cumulatively (Figure 1). Through these grants, the program has striven to promote collaborative efforts of the AALAS membership within the broader scientific community. Grant awardees have included all levels of laboratory animal science professionals – veterinarians, scientists, technicians, and animal care personnel, alike. The Scientific Advisory Committee, which administers the GLASprogram, has been active in program marketing and providing educational efforts in grant preparation since 2007. In 2009, the decision was made to increase the funding cap of Standard Grants to $50,000 and begin the implementation of the Small Grants program ($7,500 maximum cap) for innovative, higher risk proposals on important issues, potentially leading to future additional
funding. With funding levels of 16% (submission/funded), the GLASprogram success ranks as high or higher than of other extramural funding agencies to include the NIH, VA, and DOE, among many others.
In successive years, more competitive proposals have greatly strengthened the basis on which the projects are awarded. As a result, through the GLAS program, AALAS is making its mark in the world of laboratory animal science and biomedical research. To date, there have been over 180 journal publications and over 445 international meeting posters (including AALAS National Meetings), 262 presentations, and 4 documentaries (Figure 2). In addition, many GLASsupported publications have appeared in other, non-AALAS high-impact journals such as PLoS One, Nature, Cancer Research, Molecular Endocrinology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Applied Animal Behavior Science, Journal of Pineal Research, Journal of Mammary Gland Neoplasia, and Journal of Thermal Biology, to name a few.
There have been many examples of AALAS making a difference in our world through the GLAS program. Some of these include Dr. Jan Parker-Thornburg’s studies on body weight and hormone doses to determine best strategies for superovulating individual strains of mice8; and, Dr. Sylvie Cloutier’s investigations assessing positive human contact and playful handling on social enrichment for both laboratory animals and humans.3 In addition, note the fine work of Dr. Elizabeth Nunamaker and colleagues, whose studies with sustained-release buprenorphine will improve the clinical practice for macaques.9 Also, note the outstanding work of Dr. Niora Fabian and her team with Zebra finch lighting, stress, behavior, and reproductive success.1 And consider, the GLASfunded investigations of Robert Dauchy (author) and David Blask on the effects of environmental light-at-night (LAN) circadian rhythm disruption of animal and human host and cancer metabolism and physiology.2,4,5 The team’s subsequent GLAS-supported studies on blue-enriched LED light at daytime beginning in 2011 resulted in several important research articles culminating in the 2019 and 2024 AALAS journalpublications on animal health and wellbeing6,7 and the first human subject DOE investigations now underway. In addition, their work has been featured in the internationally acclaimed, award-winning Canadian Broadcasting Company (The Nature of Things)
documentary, “Lights Out,” now premiering around the United States and Europe.
As we move forward this 75 th Anniversary Year for AALAS, and more and more publications and presentations emerge from ongoing and future GLAS-supported studies, we can only be proud of this remarkable program of our organization, as our Founding Fathers would certainly be. AALAS strongly encourages all its professional membership – veterinarians, scientists, and animal care personnel, alike – to consider the outstanding opportunities afforded by the GLAS program (please visit the AALAS GLASProgram website).Putting the science in laboratory animal science, making a difference for mankind –this is what the AALAS GLAS Program is all about. We are rapidly moving forward in this new century, both globally and economically, where laboratory animal science will play an ever-increasing role in human health and wellbeing. AALAS can stand tall and be proud for leading the way in this remarkable endeavor, as exemplified by continuing support and development of a great shining star – Grants for Laboratory Animal Science.
Figure 2. Accumulated GLAS-Supported Outcomes from 2007-2022 (2023 and 2024 data not available yet) for total citations, journal publications, posters/presentations/documentaries, and awards.
human breast cancer growth by the nocturnal melatonin signal and the consequences of its disruption by light at night. J Pineal Res 51:259–269. PMID: 21605163
3. Cloutier S, Panksepp J, Newberry RC. 2013.Playful handling by caretakers reduces fear of humans in the laboratory rat. App Anim Behav Sci 140:161–171.
Robert T. Dauchy, MS, CMAR, RLATG Co-Director, Laboratory of Chrono-Neuroendocrine Oncology
Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana https://medicine.tulane.edu/center-circadian-biology
Ashlee Vaughn, PhD, CAE
Senior Scientific Editor
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Memphis, TN
REFERENCES
1. Backx AG, Wu A, Tanner A, Fabian N. 2024. A comparison of LED with fluorescent lighting on stress, behavior, and reproductive success of laboratory Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 63(3): 238–250. PMID: 38684362
2. Blask DE, Hill SM, Dauchy RT, Xiang S, Yuan L, Duplessis T, Mao L, Dauchy E, Sauer LA. 2011. Circadian regulation of molecular, dietary, and metabolic signaling mechanisms of
4. Dauchy, RT, Dauchy EM, Tirrell RP, Hill CR, Davidson LK, Greene MW, Tirrell PC, Wu J, Sauer LA, Blask DE. 2010. Dark-phase light contamination in animal facilities induces circadian rhythm disruption in endocrine physiology and metabolism: impact on laboratory animal welfare enhancement. Comp. Med 60(5):348–356. PMID: 21262119
5. Dauchy RT, Dupepe LM, Ooms TG, Dauchy EM, Hill CR, Mao L, Belancio VP, Slakey LM, Hill SM, Blask DE. 2011. Eliminating animal facility light-at-night contamination and its effect on circadian regulation of rodent physiology, tumor growth and metabolism: a challenge in the relocation of a cancer research laboratory. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 50:326–336. PMID: 21640027
6. Dauchy RT, Blask DE, Hoffman AE, Xiang S, Hanifin JP, Warfield B, Brainard GE, Anbalagan M, Dupepe LM, Dobek GL, Belancio VP, Dauchy EM, Hill SM. 2019. Influence of daytime LED light exposure on circadian regulatory dynamics of metabolism and physiology in mice. Comp Med 69(5):350–373. PMID: 31540584
7. Dauchy RT, Hanifin JP, Brainard GC, Blask DE. 2024. Light: An extrinsic factor influencing animal-based research. J Am Assoc Lab Ani Sci 63(2):116–147. PMID: 38211974
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8. Luo C, Zuñiga J, Edison E, Palla S, Dong W, Parker-Thornburg J. 2011. Superovulation strategies for six commonly used mouse strains. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 50(4):471–478. PMID: 21838974
9. Nunamaker EA, Halliday LC, Moody DE, Fang WB, Lindeblad M, Fortman JD. 2013. Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine and sustained-release buprenorphine in macaques (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis). J Am Assoc Lab Animal Sci 60(2):188–194. PMID: 23562033
In 2003, AALAS launched an online learning platform in cooperation with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to provide research institutions, AALAS branches, and individuals with detailed training in animal welfare compliance and ethics, animal use methodologies, and technician certification. This platform, called the AALAS Learning Library (ALL), emphasizes the appropriate handling, care, and use of animals and the courses are designed to serve as study aids for AALAS certification, meet training mandates of regulatory agencies, and improve users’ knowledge in technical areas.
Over the past decade, the ALL has expanded its educational offerings to a large catalog of online courses and three certificate programs. The Animal Biosafety Training Program Certificate which launched in 2011, offers courses on
biosafety principles, guidelines, safety equipment, and facility safeguards that enable the safe conduct of infectious disease research using laboratory animals at Animal Biosafety Levels (ABSLs) -2 and -3. The Transgenics Training Program Certificate and Laboratory Animal Research Support Certificate followed, launching over the next few years.
The Online Learning Committee is charged with reviewing, assessing, and updating existing courses in the ALL to ensure that they are useful, current, and relevant for learners. In addition, subcommittees help to form the certificate programs.
AALAS Learning Library celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023. As we look toward the future, our goal is for this learning platform to continue to serve the needs of our members.
The AALAS Foundation is proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary in the same year that AALAS celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
The AALAS Foundation began as an AALAS committee with the purpose of awarding grants and awards to affiliate advocacy organizations to help fund their public outreach initiatives. The AALAS Foundation, as we know it today, became an official and separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1999 - an off-shoot from the AALAS’ Awards and Educational Committee, which was established in 1977.
During the spring of 1999, the AALAS Foundation Board members met at AALAS Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, to discuss the direction of the growing AALAS Foundation. Members of the AALAS Foundation Board at the time included Dr. Bob Jackson (1999 Board Chair), Dr. Tim Lawson, Dr Dennis Stark, George Gabriel, Dr. Chip Price, Rosemary Riggs (1999 Secretary-Treasurer), Dr. Tom Goodwin, Valeri Lansford, Stacy LeBlanc, and Dr. Mary Bean. AALAS Treasurer Ralph Hornickel, former AALAS Executive Director Mike Sondag, former legal counsel Tom Boerschinger, former AALAS staff member Pam Grabeel, and AALAS former Director of Administrative Services Judy Grisamore were also in attendance.
It was during this time a new mission statement was developed as the AALAS Foundation recognized the need to take a larger and more active role of its own in developing and implementing its mission to promote awareness to the public about the important role of research animal care, the contributions of animals in advancing medical science, and to make students aware of the vast array of career opportunities in the field of laboratory animal science. Founding AALAS Foundation Board member Valeri Lansford stated, “The goal was to step out of the box and reach others beyond our industry about what the AALAS Foundation was about and supported. I’m proud that we did accomplish our goal!”
Stacy LeBlanc, another AALAS Foundation Board member from its early days, shares the following story when the AALAS Foundation was a fledgling entity in 1999, “we came up with the M.I.C.E. Team (Millennium Investment Campaign for Education) initiative. I remember one particularly long weekend meeting. Toward the end of Saturday, we
were a little punchy during a brainstorming session. At some point, someone tossed an M&M, which turned into an all-out M&M war. We became a pretty close-knit group who laid the groundwork for what the AALAS Foundation has grown into today. I’m so very proud to have been a part of this great and important organization!”
The AALAS Foundation has been fortunate these past twenty-five years to have had many outstanding AALAS member volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors and to help steer and oversee its work toward achieving its mission. Thanks to its many loyal supporters, donors, and volunteers, the AALAS Foundation has made amazing strides. Here is a list of only a few of the many resources, programs, and outreach activities the AALAS Foundation has implemented over the past twenty-five-plus years:
•Kids4Research.org – Premier of the first version of the www.kids4research.org website – thanks in large part to a generous donation from Charles River Laboratories. (1999) A website redesign was launched in 2014, and the website is currently undergoing a new design with plans for its debut later this year.
• Accept the Challenge to Care – A video showcasing a variety of careers available in laboratory animal science. (1999/2000)
• Animal Research Education & Awareness (AREA) Program – Since 1995, AALAS and the AALAS Foundation, fueled by Pfizer’s financial support, have conducted this enlightening and interactive program at AALAS’ National Meetings. The program has introduced thousands of students and teachers to laboratory animal science and the career opportunities available in biomedical research.
• Branch AREA Program – Sponsored by Pfizer, this program helps Branches offset costs associated with conducting AREA Programs at their annual meetings.
• Exhibiting at National Teacher & Student Conferences
– The AALAS Foundation has exhibited at the National Science Teachers, Future Farmers of America, and other leading national educational conferences since 1996 – meeting, talking, and distributing thousands of free educational materials to educators and students attending these conferences.
• CARE Website – www.care.aalas.org – Highlights the important role of animals in research and showcases a collection of videos highlighting an array of job titles within the field of laboratory animal science. (2013)
• “USA Today” Print Ad Campaign – Compassion to Care
– Print ads were placed in “USA Today” directing viewers to the www.care.aalas.org website. Ads reached over 338,989 USA Today subscribers and increased visits to the www.care. aalas.orgw website by 154%. (2014)
• Celebrate Animal Research & Education Public Outreach Program – “Celebrate the Mouse”, “Celebrate the Pig”, “Celebrate the Rat”, “Celebrate the Monkey,” and “Celebrate the Zebrafish” – lapel pins and “talking points” cards to inform the public the various ways animal models have helped advance medical progress.
• “Animal Flash Facts” Trivia Game – An interactive educational trivia game that challenges students to learn about the various animal models that have helped scientists achieve medical discoveries to benefit people and animals. The game set includes a set of flash fact cards with trivia questions and “fun fact” research animal trading cards.
1. “Careers in Laboratory Animal Science” Public Outreach Program – This program is designed to introduce students, especially the underserved, to the many career paths available in laboratory animal science. It includes an “Intro to Laboratory Animal Science” video, a customizable PowerPoint presentation, and a growing collection of videos highlighting the various job titles of professionals working in laboratory animal science. The program offers teachers and student organizations an opportunity to request a laboratory animal science professional to come and speak to their students.
2. “Ann Turner CARE Academy Public Outreach Training” – A free public outreach training program designed to train and prepare AALAS members to be more confident and successful in their public outreach efforts. This program allows the AALAS Foundation to offer free training, lodging and meals for up to 40 AALAS members who spend two days immersed in public outreach training at the AALAS headquarters in Memphis.
• Free Public Outreach Handout Materials – “Careers in Biomedical Research” brochure, “Animal Roles in Medical Discoveries” poster, Origami punch out mice and frogs – thousands of these educational materials have been distributed each year to students and teachers. They are also freely available to AALAS members to support local outreach efforts within their communities.
• Free Shipping of Public Outreach Materials – The AALAS Foundation has offered free shipping of its public outreach materials since July of 2010.
The AALAS Foundation takes pride in celebrating its 25th Anniversary and extends its gratitude and thanks to all its pioneer volunteers and donors who helped lay down its foundation and set its course. A heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers and donors who have helped steer the AALAS Foundation to its many successes and accomplishments along the way.
The AALAS Foundation, with the help of its volunteers and donors, looks forward to another twenty-five years of developing compelling and impactful public outreach resources and advocacy programs.
Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) manuals have undergone many revisions over the years, both relating to content and appearance. Below is a selection from past years:
Join us in achieving our 25th Anniversary goal by contributing a $25 donation on the 25th of each month. Don't worry - if you miss the 25th, your donation on any other date in the month still counts! Consider the convenience of signing up for automatic monthly donations to effortlessly support our cause. Together, let's make a meaningful impact!
With your help, we look forward to another successful twenty-five years of advocacy and providing free resources to assist AALAS members with their public outreach activities.
By Anna S Ratuski, PhD, I Joanna Makowska, PhD, and Daniel M Weary, PhD
Mouse dams and their pups may benefit from more gradual weaning, but this is not possible in standard laboratory cages because dams cannot physically separate from their pups. Wild mice spend more time away from their pups as they grow older.1 Similar behavior is seen in other species like pigs, mink, and rats, who spend more time away from young as they approach weaning.2 Mouse dams might benefit from the ability to spend time away from their pups. Mouse dams actively nurse the most when pups are one day old3 (Figure 1), and passive nursing (i.e., initiated by pups rather than the dam) increases as pups become more mobile. Mouse dams sometimes press their ventral surface against the cage walls as pups get older (called “press posture”), possibly to reduce nursing.4 Allowing mouse dams to control nursing may improve their welfare5 and encourage pups to start eating solid food earlier, potentially reducing the stress of abrupt weaning.
In this pilot study, we housed mouse dams and their pups with or without an elevated tunnel to see if dams used tunnels more as pups approached weaning, and whether tunnel access affected maternal behavior, dam anxiety, or pup weights. Tunnel use did not increase as pups got older, and there were no treatment differences in the outcomes measured. However, the lack of positive effects might be due to: (1) individually ventilated cages with air inlets and outlets at the lid level, making the tunnels drafty and colder compared to the nest, and (2) the tunnels hanging low enough that pups were able to jump into them early on.
This study was approved by the UBC Animal Care Committee and followed Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines, with safety and well-being of mice monitored throughout the study. We opportunistically used 10 C57BL/6NCrl
Passive nursingDam is laying on her side or back while pups nurse, or pups are initiating sucking while she is otherwise occupied
Active nursingDam is providing active maternal care; this includes arched-back nursing (standing over the pups with rigid legs and curved back to allow them to nurse), or blanket nursing (laying down on top of the nest with legs splayed).
Pup groomingDam is licking or grooming one or more pups
Press postureDam is immobile and pushing ventral surface of her body up against the cage wall.
Dam in tunnelDam is in the elevated tunnel attached to the cage lid (all 4 feet)
NestDam is in the nest (all 4 feet); if the nest is flat or has unclear boundaries, the mouse is towards the center
Pups in tunnelOne or more pups are inside the tunnel attached to the cage lid
Table 1. Ethogram for behavior scoring.
mice (“C57”) and 6 Crl(ICR) mice (“CD1”) bred for future experiments. Pups were cross-fostered between dams of the same strain to standardize 9-10 pups in CD1 litters and 7-8 pups in C57 litters.
Mice were randomly assigned to treatments, balanced within strain. Mice were housed in ventilated cages (32.5 cm x 17 cm x 14 cm; Ehret) with aspen chip bedding, nesting material (cotton nestlet, Ancare, and Enviropak, Datesand), and a polycarbonate hut (Bio-Serv). Mice in the tunnel group had a clear plastic tunnel (Bio-Serv) suspended from the cage lid using a plastic swing (Double mouse swing, Datesand).
Behavior was scored in person by two trained research assistants using an established ethogram (Table 1). Each behavior was scored as present or absent every 15 minutes during the last two hours of the light cycle and the first two hours of the dark cycle for 14 days.
Anxiety was assessed using light/dark box (LDB) and elevated plus maze (EPM) trials during the dark cycle. Mice were habituated to each apparatus once, and subsequently tested in the LDB when pups were 8 and 21 days old, and in the EPM when pups were 6 and 20 days old. For each 5-min trial, mice were transferred to the apparatus using a handling tunnel and video recorded. Time spent in light side of LDB or open arms of EPM were scored by an observer blinded to treatment and trial day.
Inter-observer reliability ranged from good to excellent for all behaviors. Data were transformed for analysis when necessary. Tunnel use was analyzed using a linear mixed model with fixed effects of strain, day, and a strain*day interaction. Average pup weight was analyzed using a linear mixed model with fixed effects of treatment, strain, and a treatment*strain interaction. Anxiety tests were analyzed using the same model, with the repeated effect of mouse.
Pups were able to jump into the tunnels around two weeks of age, rendering them ineffective for a dam trying to avoid pups. Tunnel use varied according to both pup age and strain (F1,86 = 3.87, p = 0.05), but did not increase linearly with pup age (Figure 3A). Contrary to expectations, dams were observed more in the nest than in the tunnels towards weaning, which may indicate they were deterred from entering the tunnel once pups could access it. It appears that tunnels were used more by CD1 mice, but our sample was not large enough to assess this statistically.
Because cages were ventilated with air outlets at the lid level, tunnels were likely drafty compared to the cage floor. Staying in the nest with the pups would have allowed dams to better thermoregulate. 6 Mice avoid drafts 7 and will use nesting material or bedding to shield themselves. 8,9 We observed dams stuffing nesting material into the gaps of the wire lid near the air outlet, potentially to block air flow. Thus, we may have unintentionally measured dams’ motivation to avoid pups against their motivation to stay warm. After weaning, most dams were in their nests (Figure 3B) and rarely in the tunnel, consistent with the idea that the tunnels were comparatively uncomfortable.
CD1 pups were heavier than C57 pups (F1,12 = 361.44, p < 0.0001), but we found no difference in weights due to treatment, which is unsurprising given their similar levels of maternal behavior (Figure 4). Passive nursing was more prevalent as pups approached weaning age (Figure 4B), indicating that older pups could initiate nursing in both treatments.
Tunnels did not impact dam anxiety, but we observed differences between strains (LDB: F 1,28 = 27.02, p < 0.0001; EPM: F1,28 = 127.82, p < 0.0001), with C57 behavior generally consistent with higher anxiety levels.
Press posture occurred too infrequently to make comparisons. No pup mortality was observed. The mouse swing has been promoted as compatible for use with tunnels, and we had no issues using the plastic double swing and tunnel combination in this study. However, we have since learned through personal experience that these two items combined in any orientation can create a choking hazard, as mice can get their head or neck stuck in the gaps between the outside of the tunnel and the plastic swing. Other suspended tunnel options are now commercially available.
Conclusion
A tunnel suspended from the cage lid was ineffective as a get-away area for mouse dams. This study serves as a reminder of how additions to a cage may not always have the intended benefit to the animals, and how cage design elements can have unintended consequences for animal behavior and welfare. Future work should test different housing strategies to give breeding mice more agency.
The authors are from the Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Anna S Ratuski, PhD is a Laboratory Animal Welfare Research Fellow
I Joanna Makowska, PhD is an Adjunct Professor
Daniel M Weary, PhD is a Professor of Applied Biology
Acknowledgments
Lauren Clarke, Emily Yau, Kathen Li, and our facility staff at UBC.
ASR was supported by a CGS-Doctoral Award from NSERC.
DMW was supported by a Discovery grant from NSERC.
1. Konig B, Markl H. 1987. Maternal care in house mice. 1. The weaning strategy as a means for parental manipulation of offspring quality. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 20(1):1-9.
2. Ratuski AS, Weary DM. 2021. A break from the pups: The effects of loft access on the welfare of lactating laboratory rats. Plos One 16(6).
3. Shoji H, Kato K. 2006. Maternal behavior of primiparous females in inbred strains of mice: A detailed descriptive analysis. Physiology & Behavior 89(3):320-328.
4. Gaskill BN, Pritchett-Corning KR. 2015. The Effect of Cage Space on Behavior and Reproduction in Crl:CD1(Icr) and C57BL/6NCrl Laboratory Mice. Figshare.
5. Špinka M. 2019. Animal agency, animal awareness and animal welfare. Animal Welfare 28(1):11-20.
6. Gaskill BN, Pritchett-Corning KR, Gordon CJ, Pajor EA, Lucas JR, Davis JK, Garner JP. 2013. Energy Reallocation to Breeding Performance through Improved Nest Building in Laboratory Mice. Plos One 8(9).
7. Krohn TC, Hansen AK. 2010. Mice prefer draught-free housing Laboratory Animals 44(4):370-372.
8. Spangenberg EMF, Wallenbeck A, Eklöf AC, Carlstedt-Duke J, Tjäder S. 2014. Housing breeding mice in three different IVC systems: maternal performance and pup development. Laboratory Animals 48(3):193-206.
9. Burman O, Buccarello L, Redaelli V, Cervo L. 2014. The effect of two different Individually Ventilated Cage systems on anxiety-related behaviour and welfare in two strains of laboratory mouse. Physiology & Behavior 124:92.
Earlier in the spring, a colleague at another institution, who had never been part of an IACUC previously, was asked to step into the Chair role on short notice. They asked me for any particular resources or advice that I could provide them for tackling the job, besides knowing to say, “Is there a motion?” at the appropriate time.
I did a deep dive into regulations and handbooks and came up surprisingly short on specifics of the day-to-day and meeting-to-meeting responsibilities of the Chair. So sparked the idea that it might be a good topic for this IACUC column! I sent a query to the National Association of Biomedical Research IACUC listserv (https://www. yammer.com/iacucnetwork/#/homefor), an electronic professional network of administrators and committee members to which topics and announcements can be posted for feedback – check it out if this is the first you are hearing of this resource! Within a matter of minutes, I had several colleagues reach out who were interested in sharing their thoughts, or who worked with fabulous IACUC Chairs that they hoped would weigh in, and so emerged this summary of their collective ‘tips for success’ for a new person coming into the Chair position.
We’ll be interested to hear if this resonates with other IACUC Chairs and committee members as well!
Corresponding contact: fclaire@upenn.edu
Stacy Pritt, DVM, MS, MBA, CPIA, CHRC, DACAW is the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Research Compliance Officer, Texas A&M University System.
F. Claire Hankenson, DVM, MS, DACLAM, is the Associate Vice Provost for Research and Attending Veterinarian and Executive Director, University Laboratory Animal Resources, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
By F. Claire Hankenson, DVM, MS, DACLAM
The Chairperson of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), commonly referred to as ‘the Chair,’ is an essential position within the animal research program, yet the Chair’s extensive duties and job expectations are not explicitly covered in regulatory guidance. The Animal Welfare Act & Regulations (AWAR; 2143,b,1) charges the members of the IACUC with representing “society’s concerns regarding the welfare of animal subjects” and further expects that the committee shall be composed of a Chair and at least two additional members, one of whom is a veterinarian and one who is not affiliated in any way with the facility (AWAR; 2.31, b).1 The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals only includes the phrase ‘IACUC Chair’ once (p. 24) in reference to the individual serving as a point of contact for the reporting of animal welfare issues, along with other leaders of the animal program.2 The word ‘chairperson’ appears just a handful of times in the Public Health Service Policy, specifying that the name and credentials of the Chair are to be included in the PHS Assurance (and also the OLAW Annual Report) and that the Chair assigns the designated member reviewers as part of committee business (IV.A.3.b.,; IV.C.2.; Footnotes #6, 12).3 For such a significant IACUC role, there is a void of detail for ultimate success and satisfaction as the Chair. Fortunately, The IACUC Handbook, which will soon be released as a fourth edition, uses case-based scenarios to assist committees and Chairs in their deliberations toward decisions.4
For immediate consultation on IACUC practices and procedures, the National Association of Biomedical Research (NABR) hosts an electronic professional network of administrators and committee members to which topics and announcements can be posted for feedback (https://www.yammer.com/iacucnetwork/#/home). In the summer of 2024, a query was posed to the list in search of current or past IACUC Chairs willing to share their ‘tips for success’ to help individuals new to the role or those persons helping to recruit new Chairpersons. Of the Chairs (n=6) who self-identified or were suggested by colleagues, they came from a range of employers both in industry and academia and from smaller and larger institutions. All the respondents had served on a committee, either as members or as coordinators, before their appointment to the Chair position; the range of time serving in Deputy (Vice) Chair and Chair roles was from 2 to 14 years. Feedback was provided over email surveys and phone interviews, and the anonymized summaries below are intended to assist the IACUC community as a resource that can be shared with committee leadership and animal program oversight professionals alike.
All of the Chairs that were interviewed had backgrounds in science and indicated they had served as a scientist on the committee or would have fulfilled the criteria as a scientist if they were not the Chair. There is no regulatory requirement for the Chair to be a practicing scientist, as long
as the Chair is knowledgeable about the applicable regulations and requirements and knows effectively how to use the expertise of the appointed committee members for discussions and decisions. Ideally, in order to facilitate a positive relationship with the institution’s researchers and ensure sound protocol decisions, the Chairperson will have some measure of a scientific background and be regarded as a good colleague in the context of the institution’s scientific mission. Further, the Chair should exhibit strong leadership qualities, including patience, diplomacy, tact, and negotiation skills, and also be efficient in the conduct of business meetings and sensitivity to confidential issues.4
What should a first-time Chair know about the job ahead of them?
It is rare for the Chairperson to manage committee business as a full-time effort, which means they are often juggling another full-time job, typically with teaching, research, academics, and administrative responsibilities at the same time that they are serving as IACUC Chairperson. Thus, it was a universal response for individuals to consider the time investment necessary when serving as the Chair; one respondent put it bluntly: “It is not a ‘rubber stamp job.’” There will be typical business items for which time effort can be more readily calculated (protocol reviews, consultations with scientists, editing of committee minutes); however, the unexpected and unanticipated aspects of the Chair related to noncompliance investigations and committee/subcommittee deliberations will
be harder to quantify for the time commitment. More than one Chair advised blocking specific time within the week to dedicate to focused committee responsibilities.
In academic institutions where productivity in research is necessary for promotional rank advancements, it may be wise to await Chairperson commitments until the individuals have attained Associate or Full faculty rank. Depending upon the institutional precedent, IACUC service may or may not be applicable for credit toward academic promotion; therefore, departmental/faculty expectations should be clear before accepting an appointment to Chair. As one Chair stated: “Be ready to devote many hours to this position; the rewards of good science within solid compliance are enormous.”
The Chair is very often the ‘face’ of the animal compliance program, yet this person is not expected to know every answer to every challenge or noncompliance scenario. The Chair should be invested in learning the animal regulations and can rely upon the IACUC administrative group, other committee members, and veterinary specialists to assist with the challenges that may arise (e.g., animal welfare violations, unannounced federal inspections, invasive or novel animal models, and rare but potentially contentious discussion topics that can range from “the mundane to the bizarre”). Having a dedicated IACUC administrative team or Animal Welfare Office can be of great benefit to a Chairperson, yet smaller institutions may lack this level of support, and additional responsibilities may fall to the Chair alone.
Understanding the institutional culture and approach to compliance is extremely beneficial – to that extent, it was advised to talk with stakeholders and scientists within the animal program to learn about the function of the animal program and where there could be areas of improvement and efficiency.
What are “best practices” to consider in running the committee meetings?
Leadership training and experience in conducting meetings, and following prewritten agendas, were shared as most helpful to Chairs to keep committee discussions on track, allow for all voices to be heard during deliberation, and solicit appropriate motions and votes in alignment with committee responsibilities.
Several of the Chairs indicated that committee meetings are best run if three key things happen: (1) Hold a status meeting at an interval ~ 1 week ahead of the full committee meeting to review items and topics that have occurred since the meeting prior; (2) Check in with IACUC or program coordinator(s) and the Attending Veterinarian at routine intervals outside of convened IACUC sessions; (3) Prepare and distribute an agenda that is distributed to set expectations and stay on track and on time.
The standing IACUC meeting is when committee members convene, and the Chairperson typically calls the session to order to then lead the group through the planned discussion topics. If certain animal protocols are going to be reviewed, it is often helpful to invite the Principal Investigator (or lead scientist on the animal protocol) to present their work and be available to answer any questions in real time from the committee members. This saves time on potential misinterpretations the committee could make from the protocol language that can be readily explained by the primary scientist conducting the work.
Chairs should do their best to listen to all members and attendees without losing focus on the plan for the meeting; sometimes discussions will need to be cut short, especially when no new opinions are being expressed, to move the agenda along and other times the issue may be critical to resolve in the moment and other topics can be delayed to a future meeting instead – this will be the judgment call of the Chair. Ensuring that nonaffiliated and nonscientist members contribute to discussions is essential for the Chair to encourage the voices of these important member perspectives. Member training is an expectation of the animal program and can be delegated to meeting attendees on areas of interest or veterinary top-
ics that will benefit the audience (e.g., enrichment for mice, conducting a semi-annual inspection, preparing for AAALAC, working with larger species). Training at regional and national conferences, or through webinars and seminars, is also helpful for the Chair, as well as for other committee members.
Minutes should be kept by a person other than the Chair, and the draft of the minutes should be distributed after the session to ensure the final wording reflects the spirit of any actions and decisions made. Working with knowledgeable IACUC administrators and coordinators will be of immense benefit to the Chair, to assist with key aspects of overall committee function, assignment of protocol reviews, tracking of when items come to the full committee, and reminders on policy and procedural reviews of committee documents.
Ultimately, the responsibility of the committee is to uphold regulatory compliance, represent animal interests, and balance this against the responsibility of achieving scientific goals as approved in protocols and procedures. The Chair should develop and maintain healthy and strong working relationships with the IACUC administrative staff, the Attending Veterinarian, and the Institutional Official to be sure that policies and local and federal regulations are followed responsibly.
Success may be augmented for a Chair by taking training or coursework on facilitation, particularly if one is not previously experienced with managing a cohort of diverse, intelligent, and driven people and fostering consistent attendance and engagement in the animal program. Fostering committee-developed decisions that are grounded in regulatory expectations and avoid perceived bias or conflicts of interest will help set the standard for committee excellence and mutual respect of members. Advocating for the animals and the program is paramount; however, meeting with the scientists outside of committee sessions will also help to disperse broader support for committee decisions that may impact policies and procedures for lab staff.
One Chair felt strongly enough to distill their advice to: “become a proverbial sponge” – listen, learn from others on the committee and from the program coordinators, read the regulatory documents pertinent to the animal species in the program, and ask lots of questions to help you serve the institution, committee, and animal users to the best of your abilities.
Overall, the IACUC Chair is expected to serve as the liaison across several constituencies, including (i) the senior administration (embodied in the CEO and Institutional Official); (ii) the scientific community; (iii) other members of the IACUC; (iv) the IACUC office administration and animal program team; (v) the federal government; and (vi) the public.4 The survey respondents found that the leadership opportunities as a Chair were an excellent means to contribute to the progress of research and animal health in a tangible way. One Chair said the most rewarding aspect of the job is “feeling like I make a difference both to animal care and to the research
mission.” Another Chair felt that witnessing how scientific outcomes advance healthcare was extremely rewarding, along with fostering positive involvement of committee members and seeing them engaged in their committee work at their institution. Inevitably, the committee will experience moments of difficult and ethical discourse; the Chairs enjoyed being part of the respectful sharing of differing opinions to cooperatively forge a path forward for the pursuit of science and the priority of animal welfare.
One Chair expressed satisfaction in growing a program to maturity and achieving AAALACi accreditation, then being able to share the accolades and kudos from the external visitors to colleagues within the program. Across the board, a universal theme from the experienced Chairs was what they themselves learned in the process. As an IACUC Chair, one stated they “walk the fine line between regulations, facilitating research, and protecting animals. It’s a hard line – but never forget your purpose and never forget the animals.” It was advised that Chairs serve as role models, in particular to help committees celebrate every win, every animal refinement, and every reduction in animal use, as well as celebrate the scientific discoveries that arise from knowledge gained from animal models.
Acknowledgments:
I wish to thank the helpful input and contributions from current and former IACUC Chairpersons and thank them for their years of service to animal program improvements:
CeCe Brotchie-Fine, DBe, CPIA; Novartis
Bart C. De Jonghe, PhD; University of Pennsylvania
Nicholas P. Greene, PhD, FACSM; University of Arkansas
Christopher S. Keator, MS, PhD; Western Michigan University
Karen V. Kibler, PhD; Arizona State University
Vanessa H. Routh, PhD; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
John J. Whitcomb, PhD, RN, CCRN, FCCM; Clemson University
1. Animal Welfare Regulations. 2023. 9 CFR § 2.31. [Internet.] Available at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/media/document/17164/file (Accessed 31Aug24).
2. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. 2011. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals, 8th ed. Washington (DC): National Academies Press. [Internet.] Available at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/guide-for-the-care-anduse-of-laboratory-animals.pdf (Accessed 31Aug24).
3. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 2015. [Internet.] Available at: https:// grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspolicylabanimals. pdf (Accessed 31Aug24).
4. The IACUC Handbook. 2014. Editors: Jerald Silverman, Mark Suckow, Sreekant Murthy. 3rd ed. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
The 2024 FAALAS Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at The University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, in the J. Wayne Reitz Union.
A meet and greet was hosted by Lab Supply and Lab Diet on Friday June 7th at Hatchetbury Axe Throwing Bar. Relaxed social gatherings like this are a great way to meet new people in a fun, no pressure way. FAALAS is forever grateful to all the vendors that support our organization.
The Florida American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (FAALAS) held its annual general meeting on June 8th, 2024, marking a significant event in the calendar for professionals involved in the care, use, and study of laboratory animals. The meeting, which took place in the sunny state of Florida, brought together a diverse group of individuals, including veterinarians, researchers, animal care staff, and administrators, all of whom share a common commitment to the humane and ethical treatment of animals in scientific research. This was our second in-person meeting held since the pandemic and we doubled our attendance from last year! People are excited to return to normal activities, and many members that left during COVID are beginning to renew their memberships.
The keynote speaker was National AALAS President Robert H. Quinn, DVM, DACLAM who discussed ways to become involved in AALAS and working up to becoming National AALAS President. Other presenters included Dr. Douglas Taylor, Dr. Sylvia Gografe, and Dr. Brian Taylor. Mauricio Rios and Lauren Peralta spoke about working as
Animal Care Specialists, Megan Pope spoke about Rare Genetic Diseases, Ms. April Tabacco presented about Combating Grief, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout, and Dr. Margaret Hull, DVM, DACLAM spoke about refined animal handling and its impact and importance. Each presentation highlighted challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
The poster sessions offered a platform, from entry level technicians to seasoned researchers, to showcase their work and receive invaluable feedback from colleagues in the lab animal field.
The day was filled with insightful presentations, engaging discussions, opportunities for networking, and the atmosphere was charged with intellectual curiosity. Key topics included the latest advancements in animal welfare, updates on regulatory policies, and innovative practices in laboratory animal science. The meeting also provided a platform for members to share their research findings, exchange ideas, and collaborate on future projects. The Florida AALAS general meeting of 2024 was not just a gathering of professionals, but a testament to the ongoing dedication and commitment of the AALAS community towards the betterment of laboratory animal science. We continue to propel scientific discovery forward and nurture a community of thinkers and visionaries committed to advancing the greater good.
Elizabeth Vernasco Price, LATG is an Animal Care Supervisor in the Department of Comparative Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jana Kranjc, LATG is an Animal Care Specialist at the Max Plack Institute for Neuroscience in Jupiter, Florida.
On May 21, 2024, New Jersey AALAS hosted their annual Technician Night and it was a grand success with six submissions. The panel of judges included the meeting sponsors, Dawn Hidenfelter from Turner Scientific, Jon Seely from Process Control Solutions, and the audience in attendance - all of which had a difficult time voting for the winner as this year’s submissions were excellent. Selection criteria was based on the delivery of the presentation, content, organization, and knowledge of the topic.
James D. Marinelli ’25, a student at Delaware Valley University, was selected as the winner and was awarded a $1,500 Technician Travel Award to attend the National AALAS Meeting this fall in Nashville, Tennessee. James presented Bioactivity, and Its Use in Captive Care and Herpetological Research. James D. Marinelli is a small animal science major with an interest in herpetology and animal behavior, with a particular focus on captive reptile husbandry, having raised different species of reptiles and amphibians for over 10 years. With his presentation, his goal was to shine a light on these animals in a new way. “These creatures have behaviors and roles in our environment that are unexplained and understudied, and I want to better understand these creatures so we can better understand how to care for them in captivity” explained Marinelli. As an Animal Care Technician with Delaware Valley University’s Small Animal Laboratory, Marinelli was one of six presenters discussing topics on husbandry and care in Laboratory Animal Science. DelVal professor, Julia Krout, facilitated student presentations and was in the audience.
Technician Night is a wonderful opportunity for technicians to share their knowledge and talents, as well as practice their presentation skills. James was in exceptional company with the other technician presenters and they were as follows:
• Out for Recess: An Innovative Housing Design for Macaques by Gina Bonanno and Anthony Salvador of Bristol Myers Squibb
• Cardiac Performance as a Function of Temperature in larval American Lobsters by Julie Karlsson with Celldex Therapeutics
• Non-Aversive Mouse Handling: Refined Methods of Handling Mice by Maura Devaney and William Falquez of Pfizer
• An Overview of In-House Designed & Constructed Hummingbird Bobtail Squid Rearing Equipment and Crayfish Housing Equipment by Laura Shouey of Princeton University
• Sustainable Enrichment by Maura Devaney and Ever Medina of Pfizer
Established in 1985, New Jersey AALAS’ mission is to sponsor and promote educational and training programs for our members and others who are professionally engaged in the care, handling, study, use, and production of laboratory animals, as well as disseminating information about the field of laboratory animal science and to be a voice for laboratory animal science to the public. One example of this is the annual Technician Night that facilitates a technician in the field of laboratory animal science to be able to attend the National Meeting that is a five-day event full of workshops, lectures, poster sessions, and exhibits with attendees from around the world.
