Peking University, Mar. 3, 2011: Peking University (PKU) was contacted by Board of Trustees of AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) on February 15, 2011. The association had reviewed and approved of the site inspection report submitted by its expert group, another step towards PKU’s AAALAC accreditation. In its letter, the Board spoke highly of PKU’s standardization process for animal care and use, careful attention to animal well-being, and continuous maintenance of occupational health and safety over the past three years. Additionally, it also offered PKU some suggestions for improving the care and use of laboratory animals.

AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes humane animal research through a voluntary accreditation program, a “Program Status Evaluation” service, and educational programs. PKU earned the AAALAC accreditation in 2008, becoming the first university in China to obtain the accreditation. According to AAALAC regulations, an institution must be reevaluated every three years in order to maintain its original accredited status. The first reevaluation procedure is particularly strict.

Prof. Zhang Xinxiang filed a work report on behalf of PKU

To prepare for the reevaluation, the PKU Office of Laboratory and Equipment Management asked the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Laboratory Animal Center to coordinate their work on animal care and use, including revising and improving over 300 rules and regulations, clarifying and sorting out nearly 10000 archives, checking thoroughly and rebuilding the environmental equipment in Parts A, B and C of the Laboratory Animal Center. From November 28 to 29 of 2010, AAALAC experts Dr. Leslie Retnam, Dr. Stephen Kelly, and Dr. Fu conducted a drop-in visit to reevaluate PKU’s laboratory practices. Professor Zhang Xinxiang, Director of PKU Laboratory Animal Management Office and Office of Laboratory and Equipment Management, and Director of PKU Institute of Molecular Medicine Professor Xiao Ruiping attended the welcoming ceremony. In the following two days, the experts evaluated the animal care equipment as well as related laboratories and all archives from the past three years, completing a site report to AAALAC.

Group photo of experts from AAALAL and PKU professors

Receiving a positive reevaluation, a result of deep concern and good coordination of the related institutes, maintains PKU’s advantage in the field of animal research and spurs development in a number of research disciplines at PKU such as life sciences, molecular medicine, bioengineering, and psychology.

Translated by: Cao Yixing
Edited by: Arthars
Source: PKU News (Chinese)