CCAC Assessments

Research and facilities involving animals are rigorously reviewed, inspected and regulated at federal and institutional levels.

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is the national organization responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the care and use of animals in science.

The Government of Canada, on behalf of the public, endorses CCAC standards for certification of animal care and use programs at all Canadian universities.

Participation in CCAC programs is essential. The university must be accredited by the CCAC to receive federal funding, which supports most university research in Canada. If an institution fails to comply with the guidelines, the CCAC has the authority to immediately suspend certification and thus suspend animal care and research programs.

The CCAC conducts a full assessment of each institution’s animal research program every six years and an interim assessment at the three-year mark between full assessments. These assessments are conducted by a CCAC assessment panel composed of scientists, veterinarians and community representatives. Assessments consist of site visits and inspections of all animal research and housing facilities, and a detailed review of research protocols, veterinarian reports and Animal Care and Use Committee meeting documentation. 

Assessment Reports include commendations and recommendations in these categories: 

  • Major
  • Serious
  • Regular
  • Commendations

Read more on categories of CCAC Recommendations

Between CCAC assessments, the Animal Care and Use Committees carry out Post-Approval Monitoring activities and conduct regular reviews of facilities and research activities. While veterinary staff and facility personnel provide daily oversight of animal care. 

The University of Alberta Animal Care and Use Program was last assessed in 2024, and the university holds a CCAC Certificate of Good Animal Practice. Holding a CCAC Certificate of GAP – Good Animal Practice® tangibly demonstrates that an institution participates fully in the CCAC programs and adheres to its internationally recognized standards of animal care and use in research, teaching, and testing. 

CCAC/CCPA logo

The university highly values CCAC assessments as tools for identifying opportunities for improvement and growth. Over the past decade, internal reviews and CCAC recommendations have led to significant progress in the following areas:

Facilities and Infrastructure 

  • Invested $3.8 million from 2017 to 2019 to modernize the aquatic facility with new water treatment and distribution systems, real-time monitoring and fail-safe systems.
  • Modernized and improved facilities for cattle and swine. The dairy barn underwent a major conversion from tie-stalls to robotic milking and free stalls to improve animal welfare. Gestation stalls for sows were replaced by free housing.
  • Ongoing investments in rodent housing equipment to meet CCAC 2030 standards. 
  • Verified that animal facilities are designated as high-priority for heat and power on campus, second only to the University Hospital. Expanded backup generator and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) capacity in 2024 and 2025 to ensure life-support systems remain active during outages.
  • Consolidated housing locations by closing several sites and relocating all activities to CCAC-compliant areas.

Governance and Oversight

  • Revised institutional policies and Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM) to address recommendations and align with evolving CCAC guidelines (2017–2024).
  • Enhanced the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) processes to focus on humane intervention points and rigorous oversight of research protocols.

Health, Safety, and Training

  • Provided advanced training for animal care teams, veterinarians, and committee members on recognition of categories of invasiveness, humane intervention points and endpoints, and the mandate and authority of the ACUCs. 
  • Improved laboratory air flow systems, cleaning procedures, and vermin control to maintain pathogen-free environments for laboratory rodents.

Commendations

The CCAC has consistently commended the University of Alberta for its dedication to animal welfare. Notable highlights from the 2017, 2020, and 2024 assessments include:

  • Repeated commendations for the university’s strong animal ethics and care program. 
  • Repeated commendations for the university’s commitment of resources toward facility maintenance and upgrades. 
  • High praise for the dedication of facility managers, animal care staff, and veterinarians.
  • Recognition of the Animal Care and Use Committees (ACUCs) for their diligent review of protocols and thorough pedagogical merit review process.