Department of Comparative Medicine

Welcome to the Department of Comparative Medicine

The Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM) supports the research activities of Tulane University faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and students by fostering a comprehensive program of quality animal care. The DCM provides high quality laboratory animals, ensures humane care and use of all laboratory animals, provides expert technical knowledge, and provides training of all faculty and staff in accordance with related laws and guidelines of all federal and state agencies. Tulane University and the DCM are committed to supporting continued advancements in biomedical research.

DCM provides professional veterinary and technical support services to investigators using animals in experimental procedures.

Responsibilities and Services

• Provide AAALAC accredited facilities for housing laboratory animals
• Consultation and collaboration with research personnel to assist in project planning and model development
• Training programs
• Animal procurement
• Provide daily animal husbandry
• Colony health surveillance
• Institutional compliance with animal welfare regulations, standards
  and policies
• Veterinary and technical support
• Environmental enrichment

If You Have Concerns

The use of laboratory animals in research is vital for the advancement of biomedical research. The privilege to use laboratory animals as experimental models carries with it the responsibility to closely adhere to the policies and procedures established by the Tulane and regulatory agencies. Tulane has developed excellent facilities and programs for the care and use of laboratory animals. Furthermore, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the operation of these resources.

In keeping with our responsibilities all of us share the obligation to make responsible Tulane officials and other individuals aware of potential violations of established procedures regarding the care and use of laboratory animals.

Should such a situation come to your attention, please speak with:

• Dr. James L. Blanchard, Executive Director, Comparative Medicine Program, 985-871-6285, jblanch1@tulane.edu
  
  
• Ms. Sheila Garrison, Director, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, 504-988-6868, iacuc@tulane.edu
  
  
• Dr. Laura Levy, Associate Senior Vice President for Research, 504-988-3291, llevy@tulane.edu
  
  
• Dr. Tara G. Ooms, Director, Department of Comparative Medicine, 504-988-5214, tooms@tulane.edu

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