University of Minnesota Statement on Animal Research

Research involving animals has contributed to major advances in human and animal health, including treatments, vaccines, and surgical techniques. While breakthroughs in biomedical science and AI promise to accelerate discovery and help reduce animal use, no full replacement for animal models in research and drug development currently exists.

The University of Minnesota supports the use of animals in research for its crucial role in discoveries that improve and save lives. As a public research university and leader in global health and innovation, we embrace our obligation to ensure that no animal is used needlessly and that animals are spared unnecessary pain and distress. The University maintains the highest standards of animal care, conforming to all ethical, legal and safety regulations, and only employs animal models when no accurate, scientifically validated alternative is available. 

The University is committed to seeking reasonable alternatives to the use of animals and applying the latest innovations in animal welfare and ethical research. Both federal policy and the University require our researchers to follow the widely accepted ethical guidelines of the three R’s: replacement, reduction and refinement. 

In the absence of complete replacement, the University is committed to developing new methods and tools that hold the promise of reducing the number of animals used in research. University leadership is dedicated to the continued implementation of these ethical advancements. 

Some of the alternatives we employ include using simulators to train clinical staff, where possible, and banking and reusing animal tissues from previous studies. We recently implemented environmental animal health monitoring in animal facilities, replacing surveillance by live rodents with an early warning system designed to detect hazards, pathogens, or infectious agents. Additionally, experts on the IACUC regularly suggest new methods and possible substitutions for animals in proposed projects, including artificial intelligence, organ-on-chip systems and cell-based assays. 

As a public research university and leader in global health and innovation, we embrace our obligation to ensure that no animal is used needlessly and that animals are spared unnecessary pain and distress. The University maintains the highest standards of animal care, conforming to all ethical, legal and safety regulations, and only employs animal models when no accurate, scientifically validated alternative is available. 

Before any project involving live animals can begin, it must undergo an exhaustive review by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). To receive approval, a project must:

• Comply with all federal regulations and University policies
• Be justified by its potential benefits to human or animal health
• Demonstrate that alternative methods were considered
• Ensure that any potential pain or distress is minimized

The University maintains a robust system of continuous oversight and follows extensive policies and guidelines that govern the use of animals in research. The IACUC and Research Animal Resources (RAR) veterinary staff conduct regular inspections of animal care, housing and records to ensure studies adhere strictly to approved protocols and federal regulations. University research facilities are also subject to both routine and unannounced inspections by the USDA. The University’s animal program is also reviewed by AAALAC International as part of the accreditation process.

To maintain these standards, all personnel must complete mandatory training before they are eligible to work with animals.

The University takes immediate action on any issues identified through routine monitoring or reports of non-compliance. The IACUC is empowered to mandate corrective actions, which may include protocol and process changes, reinforcement of existing procedures, staff retraining and suspension of research activities. 
 

Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides daily management of animal care facilities, makes regular rounds throughout the facilities to observe the animals, and provides veterinary care. All animals in research are observed at least once a day, and often many times per day by research teams. RAR and IACUC regularly inspect all facilities housing animals every six months at minimum, and more often as needed. RAR have trained animal care staff, veterinary technicians, and veterinarians with specialized expertise in laboratory animal medicine. In some cases, and with justification and approval from the IACUC, University researchers may be responsible for some or all animal care and may use non-RAR facilities. More information on animal health monitoring and reporting is available online. 

Most animals used in research at the University of Minnesota are mice, rats or fish, which comprise nearly 99% of all animals involved in research. The remaining 1% include various farm animal species (pigs, sheep, cows, goats, horses, chickens and turkeys), birds, frogs, other rodents (hamsters, guinea pigs, other mouse species), rabbits, ferrets, dogs, cats and primates.

The University of Minnesota is committed to the humane care and use of animals in research, testing and teaching. The University takes all reports of animal welfare concerns or potential violations of IACUC policies or protocols seriously. There are several ways to report animal welfare concerns or suspected policy violations, including anonymously. Federal regulations and University of Minnesota policy forbid retaliation of any kind against individuals who make good-faith reports.  

• IACUC: The University’s IACUC web site includes a link to Report a Concern.
• OIC: Our Office of Institutional Compliance webpage has extensive information about reporting suspected misconduct. 
• UReport: Reports can be made by phone at 1-866-294-8680 or online. 
• RAR: The Research Animal Resources web site offers several ways to report. 

The University takes seriously any concerns raised about research, past or current, and fully reviews allegations of misconduct and reports of noncompliance. When a report of potential non-compliance or a concern regarding animal procedures is received, it is reviewed by the IACUC and its staff. If needed, the committee will conduct a formal investigation to gather more information and make a determination as to whether any violations occurred. If there appears to be a current, serious threat to animal welfare, immediate actions will be taken to safeguard the animals.

As a result of an investigation, the committee may mandate corrective actions including evaluation of training and requirements for additional or updated training, submission of a protocol amendment, supervision of procedures by veterinary staff, subject matter experts, or committee members, periodic submission of records, and suspension of a project or a researcher’s ability to perform research with animals. 

Consistent with federal regulations, reportable non-compliance is self-reported to the institution’s external oversight bodies. These agencies conduct a secondary, independent assessment of each incident – including the University’s response and corrective action plan(s) – to assure that all necessary steps have been taken to protect animal welfare and maintain regulatory compliance.

At the University of Minnesota, most animal research is pursued to understand how diseases and treatments work inside the body in ways that cannot be studied in human clinical trials. Animal models make this possible. Animals are humanely euthanized at the end of their role to collect this information. Euthanasia is performed in strict accordance with federal regulations, and all proposed methods of euthanasia must be explicitly detailed in the researcher’s protocol and formally approved by the IACUC before any work begins. To ensure a humane process where animals do not experience pain or distress, researchers and veterinary staff are federally mandated to strictly adhere to species-specific procedures outlined in guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

When tissues or organs are not required at the end of a study, animals may continue their role in research on another study, or may be adopted to new homes. Animals are evaluated by a veterinarian and the IACUC to ensure that they are healthy and suitable for adoption, or for transfer to another study.

Animals used in research at the University are sourced from specialized suppliers, the majority of which breed and raise the animals expressly for research purposes. Suppliers of certain species are required to hold a license issued by the USDA. Most animals are procured from longstanding and trusted vendors who are approved by our animal care team. New vendors are carefully evaluated by both animal care and oversight veterinarians at the University before orders are approved to ensure that high standards for animal health and care are met.