After nearly two years, OHIO STATE'S ANIMAL RESEARCH PROGRAM FULLY ACCREDITED

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/aaalac2007.htm

The OSU release was sent 7/09/07.

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Release - 6/4/06

The Ohio State University continues to keep the public uninformed about their status with AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care).

We alerted the public on April 24th that OSU was about to have their accreditation revoked. On April 25th, the unversity released a statement confirming our alert.

"The university was informed in February that it risks a revocation of its current accreditation if prescribed changes, identified as areas of concern in earlier years, were not implemented in a timely fashion." OSU Release

In the meantime university officials prepared for a May 21st hearing before AAALAC. That meeting took place and OSU has yet to inform the public of the results.

P.O.E.T. has learned that OSU is now on PROBATION. What does that mean? Here's the definition from the AAALAC website.

By vote of Council, up to a total of 12 months. Note that these are not calendar months, but rather represent the number of months granted by Council in each letter to the institution. If adequate correction of the mandatory item(s) is not achieved within the allotted time, proceedings to revoke accreditation are initiated.

What P.O.E.T. has noticed is new forms and more paperwork and training for the investigators and their staff. But what about the animals? OSU officials downplay the impact to animal care, but the animals suffer from improperly trained staff. P.O.E.T. continues to monitor animal care and animal protocols.

The November 2006 IACUC Newsletter provides the current status of OSU's AAALAC accreditation.