SAN ANTONIO (April 7, 2015) – The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) at Texas Biomedical Research Institute has received a continuation of its full accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International).
AAALAC is a nonprofit organization that inspects and assesses the work of research programs involving animals to ensure that the organization not only meets minimum regulatory requirements but goes above and beyond in the care and use of animals.
“We are very proud to receive full accreditation status, as it speaks to the dedication and commitment our staff has toward the care of animals at the SNPRC,” said Dr. John Bernal, Associate Director of Veterinary Resources and Attending Veterinarian for the SNPRC. “AAALAC accreditation is a voluntary process by which our program and our staff undergo intense scrutiny, but we see it as a critical part of our assessment program. In addition to the standard monitoring by regulatory agencies, AAALAC helps us ensure we are doing everything we can to maintain the safety and high quality of care for the animals at SNPRC.”
According to AAALAC’s accreditation letter, the Council noted several areas of excellence, including the baboon social housing that includes environmental enrichment, the comprehensive computerized animal database medical records program and the behavioral management program for all of the species at SNPRC, as well as several other observational and reporting procedures in place at the SNPRC.
“Working in the animal research industry requires a great deal of care and compassion,” said Dr. Robert Lanford, Director of the SNPRC. “Our team understands that it is imperative our animals have the highest level of care, as they contribute to the scientific research being done here that is so critical to the advancement of human health and fighting disease.”
Texas Biomed, formerly the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, is one of the world’s leading independent biomedical research institutions dedicated to advancing health worldwide through innovative biomedical research. The Institute is located on a 200-acre campus on the northwest side of San Antonio, Texas. Texas Biomed partners with hundreds of researchers and institutions around the world to develop vaccines and therapeutics against viral pathogens causing AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, hemorrhagic fevers and parasitic diseases. The Institute also has programs in the genetics of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, psychiatric disorders and other diseases. For more information on Texas Biomed, go to www.TxBiomed.org.