The humane use of animals in biomedical research is critical to understanding biology and the causes of disease in both humans and animals, and to discovering new and better preventions and treatments.

This is underscored by the major research and treatment advances that have been developed at UC San Diego. Today, researchers are on the doorstep of startling advances in the diagnosis and therapy of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, HIV, genetic disorders and many other conditions. Animal research,  will continue to play a crucial role in these investigations.

Each proposed UC San Diego study that involves animals is evaluated by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for value and must demonstrate our commitment to ethical standards of animal care and use. The IACUC is composed of scientists, university veterinarians, and community members whose primary responsibility is to ensure that the animals are treated humanely. UC San Diego animal facilities and programs also adhere to the extensive system of laws, guidelines, regulations and principles that protect the welfare of laboratory animal animals.

To this end, many scientists at UC San Diego are actively engaged in biomedical research aimed at understanding biology and diagnosing, treating, preventing and curing diseases.