Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), a branch of the National Institutes of Health Office of Extramural Research:
- Develops and monitors, as well as exercises compliance oversight relative to Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals involved in research conducted or supported by any component of the Public Health Service;
- Coordinates appropriate PHS regulations, policies, and procedures both within PHS and in coordination with other Departments and Agencies in the Federal Government; and establishes criteria for and negotiation of Assurances of Compliance with institutions engaged in PHS-conducted or supported research using animals;
- Conducts programs of clarification and guidance for both the Federal and non-Federal sectors with respect to the use of animals in research; and directs the development and implementation of educational and instructional programs and generates educational resource materials;
- Evaluates the effectiveness of PHS policies and programs for the humane care and use of laboratory animals; and
- Serves as liaison to Presidential, Departmental, Congressional, interagency, and non-governmental Commissions and Boards established to examine issues pertaining to laboratory animal welfare in research and exercises leadership in identifying and addressing such issues.
For more information about OLAW, please visit the OLAW website.
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th edition (1,213KB) link
Post the OLAW Assurance as PDF letter when received
Public Health Service Information
No activity involving live vertebrate animals may be conducted or supported by PHS until the institution conducting the activity has provided a written Assurance acceptable to PHS, setting forth compliance with this Policy. Assurances shall be submitted to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health.
The Assurance shall be signed by the Institutional Official. All Assurances submitted to the PHS in accordance with this Policy will be evaluated by OLAW to determine the adequacy of the institution's proposed program for the care and use of animals in PHS-conducted or supported activities.
On the basis of this evaluation OLAW may approve or disapprove the Assurance, or negotiate an approvable Assurance with the institution. Approval of an Assurance will be for a specified period of time (no longer than five years) after which time the institution must submit a new Assurance to OLAW.
OLAW may limit the period during which any particular approved Assurance shall remain effective or otherwise condition, restrict, or withdraw approval. Without an applicable PHS-approved Assurance no PHS-conducted or supported activity involving animals at the institution will be permitted to continue.
The Public Health Service (PHS) assurance number for the Saginaw Valley State University is #Axx27-0x [post when received].