The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is the national peer review agency responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the ethical use and care of animals used in science. The CCAC made theoretical and practical training mandatory for all animal users in January 2003. McGill University’s Animal Care Committees started implementing the training program fully in 2004. The approval of new Animal Use Protocols as well as renewals are conditional on all personnel having the relevant training. Each individual listed in the personnel section needs to have passed the theory course and, if handling live animals, have at least registered for the practical course specific to the species and procedures involved in the project.

To assist researchers in meeting these training requirements, the Comparative Medicine & Animal Resources Centre (CMARC) offers a variety of biomethodology workshops for laboratory animals. Our Veterinary Care team has extensive knowledge and expertise with numerous techniques and procedures in several species.

The practical training has been subdivided into modules to tailor the training to each individual’s needs.