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Research

Animal Care and Use at Johns Hopkins Medicine

The study of animals has been essential to major advances in medicine. Learning from animals has led to breakthrough research and health solutions that we rely on every day, including insulin, anesthesia, antibiotics, vaccines, chemotherapy, bypass surgeries and asthma inhalers. Johns Hopkins is committed to the highest standards of excellent and humane care in the use of animals in research, and we believe that this commitment is critical to the success of our research.

A Humane Approach

We are committed to the highest standards of humane care of the animals we work with and care for, and we believe that this commitment is critical to the success of our research.

Animal Research Resources

Animal Use and Care Committee

The Animal Use and Care Committee oversees animal housing and care, veterinary medical care, facilities management, training, occupational health, and assurance of compliance with federal and state laws and policies that govern use of animals in research and teaching.

Research Animal Resources

Research Animal Resources (RAR) is Johns Hopkins’ support service for animal housing, clinical care and veterinary research. Veterinarians are available 24/7 to provide clinical care and diagnostic support.

The Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy

The Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy offers experts in radiology, interventional radiology, neurology, oncology, and orthopedics that oversee advanced imaging techniques. In addition to veterinary imaging, MRI-, CT- and ultrasound-guided biopsies may be performed, as well as interventional radiology procedures such as image-guided cryoablation and embolic therapy.

Compliance

Johns Hopkins complies with U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, with the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and with other applicable government and institutional guidelines and policies. Learn more about research compliance.

Finding Alternatives

Since its establishment in 1981, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing program, a part of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has supported the creation, development, validation and use of effective alternatives to animals in research.   

Adopting Animal Companions

We firmly believe that our ethical responsibility to our animals does not end once a research project is complete. That is why we take every step possible to identify homes that are compatible for the unique needs of our animals.

Through our collaborations with faculty, staff and community partners, as well as reputable rescue organizations, our re-homing efforts have been incredibly successful. We have been able to find homes for all of our cats and dogs, and none of our animals have been returned to us for further re-homing.

We are committed to complying with all federal laws that govern the use of animals in research.

Frequently Asked Questions