RE:  Changes to the Animal Care Facility Management Team

Dear Investigators,

This note is to inform you about the changes which occurred in the services Loma Linda University offers in the care and use of animals on campus.

The Animal Care Facility (ACF) has been a department of Loma Linda University School of Medicine (SOM) for many years.  AAALAC International accreditation, USDA Registration, and NIH/OLAW Assurance were all under the auspices of the SOM until the time the University created the Office the Vice President for Research Affairs.  At that time, the AAALAC accreditation and the OLAW Assurance moved from the SOM to Loma Linda University Health.  Recently, the University Administration decided to move the management of ACF under the Office of Research Affairs.

In the transition we determined how ACF will continue to provide the excellent services it has provided in the animal care and use program while under SOM.  For several years ACF had used the services of two veterinarians.  Due to budgetary constraints, it became obvious that the department was no longer able to afford the services of two veterinarians.

It was not an easy conclusion to relieve Dr. David Wolf, who had distinguished himself as an excellent veterinarian and a very good scientist, from his administrative duties.  Nevertheless, the ACF and the administration is committed to continue to build on what has been accomplished in the past years and move forward without interruption or reduction in the services provided.  As of April 10, 2019, Dr. Susan Mathew has been appointed Attending Veterinarian, while Dr. Obed Rutebuka will oversee the day-to-day functions of the ACF as Director of Research Safety and Animal Welfare.

The whole ACF team and I are here to serve you.  Please let us know where we can improve and with a constructive dialogue we will strive to excel on what we can, considering the limited funds at our disposal.  Services to animals and the personnel who takes care of them cannot be compromised.

Cordially,

Michael R. Samardzija, PhD, JD

Vice President for Research Affairs

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH

Office of the Vice President for Research Affairs