The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is committed to the implementation of a campus-wide compliance assurance program aimed at creating a "culture of compliance" throughout the institution. This includes distribution and easy access to written policies, procedures, and standards of conduct that promote adherence to the appropriate federal and state laws as well as program requirements of federal, state, local, and private funding agencies and sponsors.
The Desert Research Institute (DRI) conducts a small number of research projects involving the use of vertebrate animals and is committed to the humane and judicious use of animals in all such projects. Therefore, DRI is committed to staying in compliance with all appropriate governmental laws, regulations, and policies regarding the use of animals for research purposes. These laws, regulations, and policies set standards in such areas as
(1) the composition and functions of an animal care and use committee
(including review of animal welfare considerations of all research and teaching protocols [including field studies] and semiannual facility and program review);(2) procurement, transportation, and housing of laboratory animals;
(3) appropriate use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers;
(4) use of aseptic technique and multiple survival surgery;
(5) consideration of alternative (adjunct) methodology;
(6) unnecessary duplication of research; and
(7) training of research and animal care staff.
It is rare for DRI researchers to conduct studies using vertebrate animals, and DRI does not house animals for research or training purposes. For these reasons and in order to ensure compliance, DRI has arranged with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to use its Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and other animal care infrastructure (UNR-DRI agreement). DRI faculty considering research using animals first should inform the Executive Vice President for Research (Chris.Maples@dri.edu; 775/673-7463, 702/862-5460) and then contact UNR's animal care staff, Dr. William Masters (wmasters@med.unr.edu; 775-784-4874). DRI faculty are required to strictly adhere to UNR's animal care policies and procedures in order to ensure compliance.
The following links provide detailed information on the use of animals in research. All researchers that are considering using animals in their research should become familiar with the information on these pages.