Dr. Jacob R. Werner promoted to Senior Director – Education & OutreachAAALAC International has promoted Jacob (Jake) R. Werner, V.M.D., to the position of Senior Director – Education & Outreach. Dr. Werner has been serving as AAALAC's Director-United States of America (USA). In recognition of the ongoing need for expanded continuing education for AAALAC volunteers and accredited units he has been elevated to the Senior Director position.
In this role, Dr. Werner will support the accreditation program through the development of continuing education materials and presentations for the Council and other volunteers. He will also continue his work supporting the development of educational materials for accredited units and other interested parties. These efforts will support the harmonization of the expectations of the multinational accreditation program.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Werner!
AAALAC International has appointed Cecile Baccanale, D.V.M., as its new Senior Director for North America. In this position, Dr. Baccanale will lead and oversee the Association’s accreditation activities in North America, including managing all site visits in the Americas and providing education and outreach activities for North American conferences and meetings. Dr. Baccanale will assume her duties later this fall.
“AAALAC has always been an essential part of my career. I’m very honored to be joining AAALAC on a full-time basis and look forward to this new chapter in my career,” said Dr. Baccanale. “I have watched the tremendous growth of AAALAC over the last 20 years—I feel very privileged to join it as it continues to expand and promote excellence in animal care worldwide.”
Dr. Baccanale has over 30 years of experience in leadership roles within laboratory animal medicine, spanning academic, government, and industry settings. Most recently, she served as the University Veterinarian and Associate Vice President, Animal Care, in the Office of the Vice President (Research and Innovation) at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. In this senior leadership role, Dr. Baccanale was responsible for animal care and use across the university campuses, including animal care operations, veterinary and technical services, and the animal compliance office. She was also responsible for securing funding to improve infrastructure and increase staffing across animal care operations and the compliance office and represented senior leadership on the University's Animal Care Committees.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Baccanale as Senior Director for North America. Her depth of experience and knowledge of AAALAC’s accreditation program and processes will enable her to be of tremendous service to our accredited programs in North America,” said Dr. Gary Borkowski, CEO of AAALAC International.
For 12 years, Dr. Baccanale served as a member of AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation, followed by eight years of service as a Council Member Emeritus, leading site visits to determine which institutions are awarded AAALAC accreditation. She served as a Council Officer for five years, including three years as a Section Leader. Additionally, Dr. Baccanale has served in leadership roles at U.S. universities, including Associate Director at Cornell University and Director of the Office of Animal Care Services, and Attending Veterinarian at the University of Connecticut. Her industry and governmental experience includes serving as Director of Animal Health at Marshall BioResources, and as a co-investigator and veterinarian at Health Canada. Dr. Baccanale also has extensive regulatory experience as an Assessment Director for the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
Dr. Baccanale has taught and lectured at institutions including McGill University, University of Connecticut, Cornell University, and East Carolina University. She received a full scholarship to Marianopolis College, where she earned a Diplôme d'études collégiales in Health Sciences, and later received a D.V.M. from the Université de Montréal in Montreal. Dr. Baccanale is an active member of l’Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (OMVQ), Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Medicine (CALAM), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), and the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD).
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Baccanale!
For more than 50 years, AAALAC International has promoted the humane and responsible care and use of animals needed to advance medical and scientific discoveries that save lives and improve the health and well-being of both people and animals. By accrediting participating institutions, including research animal breeders, AAALAC International fosters humane and responsible animal care and use policies and practices that meet or exceed applicable standards.
Reflective of international interest, AAALAC International receives questions regarding its approach to accrediting nonhuman primate breeding programs around the globe. The following describes the standards and resources used in the rigorous evaluation of these programs conducted by AAALAC International representatives.
For a description of the accreditation process, including the on-site assessment, see “Preparing for an AAALAC International Site Visit” (AAALAC Presentations - AAALAC).
AAALAC International strongly affirms that high quality science is achieved when the welfare of the research animals is also maintained at a high level that reflects the 3Rs and a Culture of Care.
For more than 50 years, AAALAC International has promoted the humane and responsible care and use of animals needed to advance medical and scientific discoveries that save lives and improve the health and well-being of both people and animals. By accrediting participating institutions, we strive for humane and responsible animal care and use policies and practices that meet or exceed our standards.
AAALAC International’s Rules of Accreditation stipulate that the accredited institution shall observe any and all statutes and governmental regulations which bear upon animal care and use. Our accreditation standards further require institutions to promptly notify AAALAC International of significant adverse events relating to their animal care and use program. Examples include internal or external reviews/inspections that document these events; investigations by national oversight bodies; and other serious incidents or concerns that negatively impacted animal well-being.
Institutions that do not follow AAALAC International’s Rules of Accreditation are subject to their accreditation being revoked.
As part of the development of a new strategic plan, the AAALAC International Board of Directors has adopted updated Mission and Vision Statements that will guide the organization in the months and years ahead. The Mission and Vision are as follows:
Mission Statement
AAALAC International improves the welfare of animals in science and education through the accreditation of organizations meeting high standards of humane and responsible animal care and use.
Vision Statement
A world where excellence in animal welfare and science converge.
“We are convinced these Mission and Vision Statements fully capture AAALAC International’s commitment to animal welfare in science worldwide. The new strategic plan provides a path that builds on the organization’s strengths and successes and charts a course for expansion and even greater impact,” said Dr. Joachim Coenen, AAALAC International Board Chair.
Established in 1965, AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that operates voluntary evaluation and accreditation programs. Institutions seeking accreditation receive an independent, expert assessment of their animal care and use program. Those that meet or exceed applicable standards are awarded accreditation.
“AAALAC International has a long and impressive history of working with the research and animal care communities to improve animal welfare in science and education through participation in the accreditation program,” said Dr. Kathryn Bayne, AAALAC International Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to our worldwide network of dedicated staff and volunteers we look forward to implementing this new strategic plan that will expand the scope and influence of AAALAC’s work, further benefiting animals and the resulting research.”
Currently more than 1,050 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 50 countries/regions have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal welfare in science. More information is available on AAALAC's Web site at www.aaalac.org.
For more than 50 years, AAALAC International has promoted the humane and responsible care and use of animals needed to advance medical and other scientific discoveries that save lives and improve the health and well-being of both people and animals. By accrediting participating institutions, we foster responsible, humane and high quality animal care and use based on policies and practices that meet or exceed our standards.
AAALAC takes very seriously any possible deficiencies by accredited institutions that fall short of our standards that we identify via site visits, are self-reported or we become aware of via other means. We launch an investigation and establish a timetable for corrective action. In such cases, an institution is placed on restricted accreditation status (e.g., deferred accreditation or probation). Failure to report reportable adverse events promptly, as mandated by AAALAC’s Rules of Accreditation, may lead to the revocation of the AAALAC International accreditation.
To confirm suitable corrective action has been implemented, our Council on Accreditation may conduct drop-in visits with limited advance notification or a comprehensive mandatory site revisit. Failure to correct deficiencies can and has resulted in revocation of AAALAC International accreditation.
To receive AAALAC International accreditation, an institution must submit a detailed program description that details all aspects of its animal care and use. Once the program description is reviewed, AAALAC International conducts a comprehensive, onsite assessment of the program and facilities to determine if the institution will be awarded accreditation.
AAALAC requires accredited institutions to promptly report adverse events, including unexpected animal deaths and allegations regarding compromised animal welfare. We investigate these reports and, if deemed appropriate, require corrective action within a set period of time. As noted above failure to correct deficiencies in these situations can also result in revocation of AAALAC accreditation.
Additional questions about AAALAC's accreditation process may be directed to accredit@aaalac.org.