The Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) plays a crucial role in upholding the highest standards of animal care within the university’s extensive research programs. Formerly known as the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine (DLAM), DCM is dedicated to providing exceptional veterinary care and implementing best-in-class laboratory animal management practices for all vertebrate species involved in UNC-CH’s diverse research initiatives. This commitment ensures the ethical and responsible use of animals in studies that advance scientific and medical knowledge.
With a dedicated team of over 160 professionals, encompassing veterinary, technical, and administrative experts, DCM oversees the well-being of a daily population exceeding 100,000 animals. These animals are housed in various facilities both on and off the UNC-CH campus, supporting over $200 million in externally funded animal research. This vital research spans numerous departments and schools within UNC-CH, including Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health, Pharmacy, Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, demonstrating the breadth and depth of comparative medicine’s impact on campus research. Administratively, the Division of Comparative Medicine is accountable to the Vice Chancellor for Research, highlighting its institutional importance.
The effectiveness and ethical standards of the Division of Comparative Medicine are rigorously evaluated bi-annually by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Furthermore, DCM has maintained continuous accreditation from the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) since 1973, signifying a long-standing commitment to excellence. UNC-CH and DCM also consistently meet the stringent regulations and standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Public Health Service. A core responsibility of DCM’s team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and laboratory technicians is to ensure the health, humane treatment, and proper utilization of all research animals. As specialists in comparative medicine, they deliver comprehensive veterinary programs, offer expert technical advice, and provide essential laboratory and pathology services vital for both diagnostic purposes and research advancement.
Over 115 skilled laboratory animal technicians are essential to the daily operations, providing compassionate and meticulous care for animals within the university’s animal facilities. Their primary objective is to create a humane and enriching environment for every animal under their care, minimizing any external factors that could potentially compromise the integrity and outcomes of research projects. This dedication to animal well-being underscores the critical role of comparative medicine in facilitating reliable and ethical scientific discovery at UNC-CH.
