COGR expresses concerns to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command's Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) regarding a new policy that, effective…
Animal Subjects
Regulatory requirements governing laboratory the use of animals in research and provision of institutional oversight for that research through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
Featured
COGR Submits Comments in Response to DHHS RFI: Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation to Make America Healthy Again
COGR, representing over 230 U.S. research universities and affiliated institutions, submitted detailed feedback to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)...
COGR Joins Multi-Organization Statement on Addressing the Shortage of Long-Tailed Macaques for Research
A coalition of 40 organizations from scientific, veterinary, and conservation fields has issued recommendations to address the critical shortage of long-tailed...
Resources
Point of Contact
Kristin West
Director, Research Ethics & Compliance
All Animal Subjects Articles
COGR Submits Comments in Response to DHHS RFI: Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation to Make America Healthy Again
COGR, representing over 230 U.S. research universities and affiliated institutions, submitted detailed feedback to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on streamlining federal research regulations to reduce administrative burden, enhance regulatory consistency, and foster innovation. COGR's letter highlights the need to eliminate duplicative or inconsistent requirements across federa
COGR Responds to NIH Request for Information (RFI) on Proposed Guidance to Assured Institutions on Cephalopod Care and Use (NOT-OD-23-176)
COGR submitted a response to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare’s (OLAW) Request for Information on Proposed Guidance to Assured Institutions concerning the care and use of cephalopods in research. While COGR supports the advancement of animal welfare and recognizes the evolving scientific understanding of cephalopod care, it expresses significant concerns about the scope and basis of OLA
COGR Responds to Request for Information (RFI) on an Update to the Current OLAW Guidance Disclaimer
COGR responded to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare’s (OLAW) Request for Information regarding its proposed guidance disclaimer, expressing concern that the current wording incorrectly suggests OLAW can expand regulatory requirements beyond Congressional authority. COGR recommends that OLAW revise the disclaimer to clearly state that guidance documents are recommendations, not binding requir
COGR Responds to RFI on Flexibilities for Streamlining IACUC Review of Protocols and Significant Changes (NOT-OD-23-152)
COGR submitted formal comments in response to the NIH’s Request for Information (RFI) regarding flexibilities for streamlining Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) review processes. COGR emphasizes the importance of maintaining animal welfare and research integrity while advocating for efficient regulatory frameworks that minimize unnecessary administrative burdens, as mandated by t
COGR Responds to OLAW's Request for Information (RFI) on Clarification of Animal Activities Exempt from PHS Policy Requirements for IACUC Review (NOT-OD-23-119)
COGR submitted comments in response to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare’s (OLAW) Request for Information regarding clarification of animal activities exempt from Public Health Service (PHS) Policy requirements for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) review. COGR expressed appreciation for the opportunity to comment but noted that the RFI r
COGR's Response to Request for Information (RFI) on Update to NOT-OD-05-034 Guidance on Prompt Reporting of Noncompliances to OLAW (NOT-OD-23-063)
COGR submitted a letter to the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) regarding the proposed update to guidance on prompt reporting of noncompliance in animal research. COGR acknowledges the importance of clear and unambiguous reporting standards, which balance the protection of animal welfare with minimizing unnecessary administrative burden for researchers. Wh
COGR Submits Comments in Response to ANPRM Entitled Wild and Exotic Animal Handling, Training of Personnel Involved with Public Handling of Wild and Exotic Animals, and Environmental Enrichment for Species
The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing over 200 research universities and affiliated institutions, submitted comments in response to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning wild and exotic animal handling, personnel training, and, notably, environmental enrichment standards for species covered under the
Have We Reached the Proverbial Fork in the Road for Animal Research?: October 2022 Meeting
The document discusses the growing challenges and critical crossroads faced by the field of animal research in the United States, particularly as societal values increasingly prioritize animal welfare over scientific advancement. It highlights how regulatory pressures, legislative intervention, and activism, such as high-profile legal actions and media coverage, create a complex and frequently hos
COGR Submits Comments to USDA on Proposal Rule on Standards for Birds Not Bred for Use in Research Under AWA
The document is a formal comment letter submitted by the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), an association representing nearly 200 U.S. research universities and related institutions, to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) concerning a proposed rule on standards for birds not bred for use in research under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
Summary of USDA APHIS Proposed Rule
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed a rule to amend Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations by introducing comprehensive standards for the care, handling, treatment, and transportation of birds not bred specifically for research. The rule, published in February 2022, would affect a range of stakeholders, including dealers, breeders, exhibitors, transporters, and r
