International Accreditation to Vivarium in Boğaziçi University
Placed inside the Boğaziçi University Center for Life Sciences and Technologies ‘’Experimental Animal Care and Breeding Unit’’ (Vivarium) has received full accreditation from the only accreditation institution on using animals for science experiments AALAC International, making it the only accredited experimental animal laboratory.
The director of the Boğaziçi University Center for Life Sciences and Technologies Prof. Dr. Rana Sanyal says that by getting accredited from the AAALAC International in November 2017, for the first time an animal laboratory in Turkey is officially registered to be operating according to international standards.
Director Rana Sanyal explains that after the inspections and evaluations done by the international committee of AAALAC, the laboratory had proven their commitment to the high standards and their commitment to the well being of the animals during experiments. She says that the AAALAC International Accreditation was not a ‘one experiment only’ type accreditation.
‘’The accreditation which we have received is on par with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which evaluate the scientific data on experiment labs and the production qualities, respectively. The AAALAC accreditation is a global standard for the quality of animal care and use programs, it supports the validity and results of the scientific researches and by holding the institution accountable it makes sure that the wellbeing of the animals are a priority.
Sanyal also said that a study done in Vivarium can be used in the official medicine and medical device application files of Food & Drug Administration (FDA), European Medical Agency (EMA) and Medicine and Medical Device Institution of Turkey (TITCK). ‘’When it comes to science the only institution to give international accreditation to experimental animal care and utilization is AAALAC and it is a world renowned of sign of dependability and quality in science.’’
In the Boğaziçi University Center for Life Sciences and Technologies, there are three substructures: Test Analysis Unit, Medical Device Development Unit and Vivarium. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic faculty member Yard. Doç. Dr. Necla Birgül İyison says that in Vivarium, founded in 2010 with the help of the ministry of development, the animals are used in the research projects in the sectors of medicine, food, biomedical, biotechnology, environment and bio security. Birgül İyison says that Vivarium, licenced from the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock, also gives services to both inside of the university and public and private facilities doing research-development.
Rana Sanyal, the Director of the Center, the researches in medicine and bioenergy in our country has been implemented using animal testing and thanks to Vivarium and it’s educated and experience staff, the experiments that will provide a breakthrough in the field of research, medicine, environment and biosecurity has been carried on.
About Vivarium:
Under the structure of the Boğaziçi University Center for Life Sciences and Technologies,
‘’Experimental Animal Care and Breeding Unit’’ (Vivarium) continues to bring together all scientists from different branches, continuing to provide a basis for interdisciplinary projects. The laboratory, which was built inside a 450 square meter field is controlled by a automation system which can be temperature, pressure, humidity controlled. In the main entry of the laboratory there are security cameras as well as a card and finger print security system. In the second entry level there is an air curtain of sterilization system. For each and every room cards are used for entry and the laboratory is being controlled by an alarm system.
https://lifesci.boun.edu.tr/tr/deneysel-hayvan-birimi
On AAALAC:
The only institution that is allowed to give international accreditation on animal testing, AAALAC is a non-profit organization. Among 44 countries, more than 980 institutions including hundreds of companies, universities, hospitals and government institutions have been accredited by AAALAC. Getting accreditation from AAALAC means the institution is declaring full responsibility in terms of using animals for experiment purposes. AAALAC sets the standards to make sure animal testing is done in a way that is the most compatible with the ethics of science.
