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UConn acknowledges ‘serious non-compliance’ after halting experiment on rabbits

ACTION ALERT:

Dr. Roxanne Mullaney,
Deputy Administrator, Animal Care, USDA/APHIS/AC
[email protected]
[email protected]

Please launch a full investigation of the serious vioations at the University of Connecticut, Storrs! The incidents which recently abused rabbits must not be tolerated!



UConn acknowledges ‘serious non-compliance’ after halting experiment on rabbits

From Emily DiSalvo, SheltonHearld.com, May 14, 2024

A lab at UConn's campus in Storrs halted an experiment involving rabbits after "non-compliance" in research protocol, according to a letter sent by the university in February to the National Institute of Health's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.

In the letter, UConn's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee admitted "serious noncompliance," leading to the suspension of the experiment. The procedures for the experiment, officials stated, had been given prior approval to attach a device under the rabbits' skin before staff members made changes to the procedure and attached the device externally without gaining further permission.

"The IACUC’s decision was based on the recent event in which laboratory staff implemented significant changes in an ongoing activity without prior review and approval by the IACUC," the letter, which is dated Feb. 8, reads. "This change, in which a novel device was mounted externally, as opposed to subcutaneously as approved, and without consideration for the necessary care and maintenance of the site, presented the potential for serious animal welfare concerns.”

UConn officials would not elaborate on the exact nature of the experiment that was being performed.
In a statement provided to CT Insider from university spokesperson Stephanie Reitz, UConn declared "No federal laws were broken" but acknowledged the "one rare, but unfortunate instance."

"In February, UConn proactively reported to federal regulators that it had discovered, investigated, and addressed issues involving noncompliance in a research protocol involving rabbits at UConn Storrs," Reitz said in an email. Reitz said that UConn takes compliance matters "very seriously" and their standards enable the university to ensure the welfare of animals throughout the research process.

Reitz said the school suspended "all activities with live rabbits that were formerly approved under the protocol." She also said the federal agency "acknowledged UConn’s corrective actions and required no additional actions."

SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation Now), a national watchdog nonprofit that attempts to monitor animal abuse at U.S. research facilities, filed a federal complaint against UConn for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act after obtaining the letter through a Freedom of Information request.

Michael Budkie, the co-founder of SAEN, said the decision to change where the device was mounted on the rabbit was counter to approved protocol and could have increased discomfort for the animal.
The National Institute of Health Office of Extramural Research, the federal agency that oversees the welfare of lab animals, declined to comment on the specific incident.

"NIH does not discuss individual institutions and any self-reported cases of non-compliance with the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. That said, NIH has an ethical and legal obligation to ensure the welfare of, and minimize risks for, humans and other animals who are involved in NIH-funded research. NIH takes very seriously the humane care and use of laboratory animals used in NIH-funded research," said David A. Kosub, senior advisor for legislative and media affairs, in a statement

In the SAEN complaint, Budkie cites a section of the Animal Welfare Act that requires the IACUC to approve modifications to protocol prior to implementation.

"Suspending research protocols, as they did here, is something that does not happen very often," Budkie said.

While it is unclear from the report exactly what harm the animals may have suffered, the problem with the experiment that SAEN alleges violated law is the failure to report changes to the experiment and get approval.

"Failure to obtain full protocol approval prevents both veterinary staff and research administration from implementing changes based on either proper scientific procedures or veterinary requirements," SAEN officials said in a news release May 6.

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