Laboratory Animal Medicine Program
Images courtesy Dr. Leanne Alworth
Purpose & Mission
The Laboratory Animal Medicine Program (LAMP) is a division of the Department of Population Health in the College of Veterinary Medicine and is the academic home for the university’s laboratory animal medicine specialists.
Our mission is to advance scientific knowledge and improve the health and well being of humans and other animals while ensuring the humane care and responsible use of laboratory animals. This mission is advanced through our service, research, and teaching activities.
In biomedical research, experimental animals have enormous importance as models for elucidating and predicting behavior, health, and disease or for gaining information regarding basic biologic processes. Scientific, legal, and ethical considerations have prompted comprehensive and rigorous standards for the handling, care, and use of experimental animals.
The university houses more than 20,000 animals on campus, encompassing at least 20 different species. While more than 90% of these animals are rats, mice, and fish, our veterinarians are expert in the needs and health care for a wide variety of other animal species, including non-human primates, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, hamsters, birds and amphibians.
Service Activities
Our primary service role for the University of Georgia is extended through our responsibilities in the administration of the AAALAC-accredited University Research Animal Resources. In this role, our faculty veterinarians provide medical care for laboratory animals and oversee their proper housing and husbandry.
We support excellence in biomedical research and instruction by helping ensure the humane and appropriate use of laboratory animals. We have considerable input into oversight and regulatory affairs regarding the institutional use of animals through intensive work with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), including the review of animal use proposals and inspecting the animal facilities and farms, and by providing consultation to faculty and staff on research animal care and use matters.
Our faculty veterinarians advise and train researchers and technicians on humane methods of animal experimentation, including appropriate surgical techniques, animal restraint, and use of anesthetics and analgesics. We manage and operate research animal facilities and participate in planning the construction and renovation of animal facilities Also, we serve as liaisons between the institution and regulatory and accrediting organizations.
Research Activities
A key part of our research activities is providing expertise to scientists in developing and refining their experimental animal models, and in some cases participate in collaborative research projects.
Independent research in laboratory animal medicine (comparative medicine) includes the development of animal models of human or animal disease, investigations into infectious diseases of laboratory animals, improved handling and care of research animals, computer modeling, procedural and surgical techniques, anesthesia and analgesia, and animal nutrition.
Teaching Activities
As part of our teaching mission, the LAMP offers mentoring and pre- and postdoctoral training for the next generation of laboratory animal medicine specialists. We provide laboratory animal medicine (POPH5202 and 5203L) and animal welfare (POPH5215) courses in the DVM curriculum as well as offering externship opportunities to veterinary students who want to learn about laboratory animals and their care and a career as a laboratory animal veterinarian.
Beginning in the summer of 2008, our academic role is expanding with the initiation of a new 2-year residency training program [PDF] in laboratory animal medicine. This training program is designed to meet all the criteria for recognition by the AVMA specialty organization, the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM).
When given the opportunity, we like to educate the scientific and lay community about laboratory animal medicine and the use of animals in research. This may be done via classroom presentations, lectures to local and national organizations, and media appearances.
Useful Links
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
UGA is accredited by AAALAC, private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs.
The American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine
The ACLAM advances the humane care and responsible use of laboratory animals through board certification of veterinary specialists, professional development, education and research.
American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners
ASLAP provides scientific information among lab animal veterinarians, promotes training in the field of laboratory animal practice at all levels, encourages development of knowledge in laboratory animal practice, acts as a spokesperson for laboratory animal practitioners within the AVMA House of Delegates, and represents our common interests and concerns to the scientists and the public.
University Research Animal Resources
URAR's mission is to provide and promote optimal laboratory animal care and use as well as high-quality support services through professional management, education, and training.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
IACUC conducts animal care facility site visits, evaluates programs of animal care, reviews animal use proposals and ensures through staff development activities that people who work with laboratory animals are appropriately trained.
Laboratory Animal Residency Program description
(from our application for recognition of program by ACLAM) [PDF]
This page was last updated March 14, 2008.
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