Nominees needed for new Standing Committee for the Care and Use of Animals in Research

[Laura Bies]

UPDATE: Nomination deadline extended until Nov. 6.

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The National Academies’ Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) is forming a new standing committee to inform future updates or additions to The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide). The Guide is a leading guidance document that elaborates upon the underlying philosophy and basic principles for appropriate care of research animals. This Guide discusses field investigations in a very cursory manner, but is nonetheless used by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees in assessing research protocols for field studies.

ILAR is taking nominations for the new standing committee until Nov. 6 The input of wildlife biologists would be very valuable to ILAR, the Guide did not address wildlife biology until recent revisions and even then only in a very cursory and broad manner.  

Ornithologists are encouraged to submit themselves or colleagues for the standing committee. See below for more information about the process and a link to submit nominations. If you do submit a nomination, the Ornithological Council would love to know (laurabiesoc@gmail.com). 

From the National Academies:

Nominate Experts: Standing Committee for the Care and Use of Animals in Research

The National Academies’ Institute for Laboratory Animal Research is seeking nominations of experts to serve on a new standing committee to inform future updates or additions to The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide). Now in its 8th edition, the Guide is one of the most well-known documents in the animal care and use field and serves as the basis for accreditation of institutions worldwide. The standing committee will aim to provide a venue for the exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing among federal government agencies, academic communities, the private sector, and other stakeholders engaged in animal research,  research training, experimentation, biological testing or for related purposes or other special categories involving research animals.

A committee of experts will be appointed by the National Academies, drawing members from the academic, government, private, and non-profit sectors. The interdisciplinary committee will require members to be scientists and veterinarians with training in Laboratory Animal Medicine and knowledge, expertise, and current experience with animal research under captive or natural conditions, and relevant to:

• regulatory and compliance matters
• biodiversity conservation
• the care, use and welfare of laboratory, domestic, agricultural and/or terrestrial and aquatic wild animal (e.g. cephalopods and polar species),
• privately owned animals (e.g. companion animals, pets) species
• other special categories involving research animals
• basic and translational sciences
• One Health
• research training
• biological testing
• other research and teaching activities.  

The nominations deadline is Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Nominees should be available to attend a meetings (virtually) as early as November 2020. In forming the committee, we seek to include individuals who are at different stages of their careers, including junior faculty and senior investigators, as well as those from underrepresented groups. Self-nominations are also welcomed. Make your nomination(s) today!

Link to submit nominations: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5897789/Call-for-Nominations-Standing-Committee-for-the-Care-and-Use-of-Animals-in-Research?mc_cid=fd3b54af25&mc_eid=080f9a36fc

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Edited October 9, 2020 by Laura Bies
Deadline extended until Nov. 6