USGS Ecosystems Mission Area: Animal Welfare Assurance

What do we do:

• Assist EMA Science Centers IACUCs in achieving compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Interagency Research Animal Committee (IRAC) Principles.
• Provide guidance to promote animal welfare and human and animal safety in research, teaching, and training activities occurring within EMA.
• Administer regulatory reporting.
• Review concerns involving the care and use of vertebrate animals at EMA.
• Provide animal welfare outreach and communications.
• Administer basic required IACUC training.
• Maintain this site to provide the research community with information that will assist them in maintaining compliant programs.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees at Ecosystems Mission Area, USGS

The Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) ensures that all EMA staff comply with federal, state and local guidelines concerning the use of vertebrate animals in research, teaching and training through each EMA science Center’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Science center IACUCs report to the EMA Associate Director.

Each EMA science center IACUC is responsible for (1) reviewing and approving all activities utilizing vertebrates for research, teaching and testing, emphasizing the 3 R’s: refinement, reduction and replacement; and (2) ensuring that all animal care and use within the center comply with AWA, IRAC principles, and all other applicable regulations. Each science center IACUC is responsible for inspecting animal facilities and investigator laboratories, investigating animal concerns, and overseeing training and educational programs.

 Useful Links

• USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Contact Us:

Ecosystems Mission Area: Animal Welfare Assurance

Guelaguetza Vazquez-Meves, MBA, Ph. D

Regulatory Compliance Specialist

US Geological Survey

12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS 300

Reston, VA 20192

Phone: 703-648-4064

Email: gvazquez-meves@usgs.gov