August 21, 2025
Statement affirming University’s commitment to animal welfare following USDA inspection
The University of Washington is committed to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare and regulatory compliance in all of its research programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted an unannounced inspection of UW’s animal research program in July 2025 as part of its routine annual process and to follow up on an anonymous concern submitted to USDA alleging unfair treatment of a researcher by the UW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the attending veterinarian. After reviewing the matter during the inspection, the USDA determined that the concern was not substantiated.
The inspection identified non-compliances under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), three of which had been self-reported by UW prior to the visit:
- Non-compliance with approved protocols (repeat finding): In certain studies, procedures and animal numbers exceeded those described in the approved IACUC protocol. These deviations were identified, reviewed, and acted upon by the IACUC prior to the inspection.
- Critical concern regarding IACUC decision-making: The attending veterinarian had previously raised concerns over the rescission of an IACUC letter of counsel related to the shipment of a geriatric nonhuman primate without adherence to established procedures. One animal was euthanized shortly after arrival due to clinical concerns. The USDA emphasized the importance of ensuring the attending veterinarian has full authority to safeguard animal welfare.
- Mandatory principal investigator (PI) responsibility for reporting adverse events: An adverse event involving a nonhuman primate was not reported to the attending veterinarian or IACUC in a timely manner, as required under the Animal Welfare Act. Under federal law and university policy, the principal investigator bears the ultimate responsibility for immediately notifying the attending veterinarian of any unexpected adverse events that impact animal welfare. This obligation cannot be assumed to be someone else’s responsibility or delayed. Failure to report in a timely and complete manner is a direct violation of the AWA and undermines the protections in place for research animals.
All three issues have been corrected, and the University has strengthened oversight, training, and monitoring to ensure that all personnel understand and fulfill their responsibilities for compliance and reporting.
The inspection also identified two additional facility-related findings, both corrected promptly:
- Facility maintenance: Repair of chipped paint above primate enclosures to maintain cleanable surfaces.
- Chemical storage: Removal of chemicals from food preparation areas to prevent contamination.
All non-compliances noted in the report have been addressed, with corrective actions verified. The UW IACUC and attending veterinarian will continue to monitor protocol adherence and adverse event reporting to ensure consistent compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and institutional standards.
“Animal welfare is central to the integrity of our research,” said Sally Thompson-Iritani, assistant vice provost for animal care, outreach and the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement). “While our goal is to avoid any adverse incidents, we will continue to be transparent in our reporting of any that may occur. We take all inspection findings seriously, and we remain committed to a culture where compliance, openness, and humane care are paramount.”
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The USDA inspection report is available online: https://sites.uw.edu/oawrss/usda-inspection-reports/
