The care and use of laboratory animals in research, testing and training at UConn Health is maintained through a centralized program involving Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, the Office of Research Safety, the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), the Animal Services Advisory Committee (ASAC) and Research Administration.

The CCM employs 19 full-time personnel, including a board-certified veterinarian, an assistant director, two administrative staff, two certified veterinary technicians, two supervisors, 6 animal care technicians, and 5 sterile supply aides.

The CCM is firmly committed to providing an environment that promotes quality biomedical research. The CCM is entrusted with humane and responsible veterinary, technical and husbandry support of all animals utilized in research and teaching. This is accomplished through education, training, professional consultation and assistance.

The CCM goals and objectives include the following:

• To provide the highest quality of laboratory animal care and use program to assure productive research and teaching programs.
• To provide technical services, resources, training, expertise and guidance on all matters related to animal care and use.
• To assure compliance with institutional, local, state and federal laws, standards, policies and guidelines related to laboratory animal care and use.

The laboratory animal care program at UConn Health has been accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International), since 1977. The USDA Site ID: Customer Number 44, Certificate Number 16-R-0025, PHS Assurance Number A3471-01.

Ramaswamy M. Chidambaram, DVM, PhD, DACLAM