| AAALAC | Association of Assessment and Accreditation for Laboratory Animal Care International. A voluntary accreditation organization that works with institutions and researchers to ensure high standards of animal care and use. Wayne State University and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center have been accredited by AAALAC since 1977. |
| AALAS | American Association for Laboratory Animal Science |
| AC | Animal Care (APHIS, USDA) |
| ACLAM | American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine |
| APHIS | Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. |
| APHIC/AC | Animal Care Division of APHIS. Administers the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and enforces the AWA through a system of licensing, registration, and inspections. Wayne State University and John D. Dingell VA Medical Center's Animal Welfare Assurance number is A 3310-01 (or D16-00198). |
| ARENA | Applied Research Ethics National Association |
| ASLAP | American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners |
| AV | Attending Veterinarian, as defined by the AWAR. Wayne State University and John D. Dingell VA Medical Center's Attending Veterinarian is Gerald Hish, D.V.M., DACLAM, Assistant Vice President for Laboratory Animal Resources. |
| AVMA | American Veterinary Medical Association |
| AWA | Animal Welfare Act. Public Law 89-544. Title 7 of the U.S. Code (7 USC) §§2131 et. seq. The law that, in part, is intended to ensure that animals used in research facilities (as defined therein) are provided humane care and treatment. |
| AWAR | Animal Welfare Act Regulations. Detailed regulations and standards for implementing AWA, found in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR), Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts 1, 2, and 3. |
| AWIC | Animal Welfare Information Center |
| DLAR | Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (Wayne State University) |
| FBR | Foundation for Biomedical Research |
| FOIA | Freedom of Information Act |
| GLP | Good Laboratory Practices Guide Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1996. |
| HREA | Health Research Extension Act of 1985. Public Law 99-158, November 20, 1985. Section 495. Law that directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish guidelines for the proper care and use of animals used in PHS-supported biomedical and behavioral research. |
| IACUC | Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. A committee qualified through the experience and expertise of its members that oversees its institution's animal program, facilities, and procedures. |
| IBC | Institutional Biosafety Committee |
| ICLAS | International Council for Laboratory Animal Science |
| ILAR | Institute for Laboratory Animal Research |
| IO | Institutional Official, as defined in the AWAR and PHS Policy ("An individual who signs and has the authority to sign the institution's Assurance, making a commitment on behalf of the institution that the requirements of this Policy will be met"). Wayne State University and John D. Dingell VA Medical Center's IO is Philip Cunningham, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Research Integrity. |
| LAMA | Laboratory Animal Management Association |
| NABR | National Association for Biomedical Research |
| NAS | National Academy of Sciences |
| NIH | National Institutes for Health. Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and comprised of 27 institutes and centers, it is responsible for carrying out and supporting biomedical and behavioral research. |
| NIH/OPRR | Office for Protection from Research Risks of the NIH. Its Division of Animal Welfare has the responsibility for developing, monitoring, and exercising compliance with PHS policy. |
| NIOSH | National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health |
| NRC | National Research Council |
| NSF | National Science Foundation |
| OEHS | Office of Environmental Health and Safety (Wayne State University) |
| OLAW | Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, NIH |
| PHS | U.S. Public Health Service. Part of the Department of Health and Human Services which includes the NIH, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. |
| PI | Principal Investigator |
| PRIM&R | Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research |
| RSC | Radiation Safety Committee |
| SCAW | Scientists Center for Animal Welfare |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure. A set of written procedures developed by an institution, often used to define how IACUC or animal facility activities will be performed. |
| USDA | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| U.S. Government Principles | U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training. The nine principles developed by the U.S. Government are incorporated into the PHS Policy. |