On 25th February 2011, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIMM), received the site visit from the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International for its animal care and use program.

The experts from AAALAC conducted thorough evaluation on the care and use of laboratory animals at SIMM. During the Exit Briefing of the site visit, AAALAC experts commended SIMM for the strong administrative commitment to the program; the sound facilities and programs for the care and use of laboratory animals; the active and conscientious Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); the well-trained animal care and use staff; and the good animal health. The AAALAC experts also provided SIMM the Suggestions for Improvement for further enhancing the animal care and use program. The site visitors noted that they would recommend the full accreditation of SIMM’s animal facilities to the AAALAC Council.

The first successful site visit of AAALAC is accredited to the strong dedication and hard working of each member of SIMM’s animal care and use program. It is certainly another start point for SIMM to have continuous maintenance and improvement of all programs related to animal care and use.

About AAALAC:AAALAC International is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science. When animals are used in research, AAALAC works with institutions and researchers to serve as a bridge between progress and animal well-being. This coordination is accomplished through the voluntary AAALAC accreditation and assessment process, in which organizations demonstrate that they not only meet the minimum standards required by law, but also go the extra step to achieve excellence in animal care and use. More than 800 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 34 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use.