Welcome

The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) is the centrally administered animal resource that acts as the service and teaching unit supporting all animal use in research, testing, and education at Northwestern University. Animals used in biomedical research at Northwestern University are housed either in CCM facilities or in facilities administered by academic departments for which CCM provides the primary care and oversight. CCM has been AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International) Accredited since 1985 and a member of AALAS (American Association for Laboratory Animal Science) since 1962.

CCM Business Office News and Announcements	Animal Orders
CCM periodically contacts Principal Investigators and their staff with important announcements via email. If you would like to receive these messages, please contact acuc@northwestern.edu. Archived Announcements and past editions of the CCM Bulletin are available to those currently listed on an active protocol as well as CCM and IACUC staff. FY09 Per Diem and Surgical Rates FY10 Per Diem and Surgical Rates Protocol Bill Reference List New/Revised Animal Housing Types	Form for Animal Procurement LINK to all FORMS here! Remember to send the completed form to: ccm@northwestern.edu Non-Animal Orders: investigators and their staff can drop off their order forms at the Lurie Basement Main Office B-127. Filled orders will now only be available at the Lurie Main Office (Lurie Basement 127).
Let Us Know Who YOU Are	Report Animal Welfare Concerns
If you are new to the lab, or NU, or if you have changed contact email or phone number, please contact OPRS at acuc@northwestern.edu. Department staff and administrators who will need to be contacted regarding award related business should also register with OPRS.	If you see or suspect any mistreatment of research animals at CCM you should report it immediately. Contact our Director, or submit an anonymous report by following these instructions. (a PDF document)
Contact the CAR Committee	Training Classes
The Committee on Animal Resources (CAR) is a standing committee of senior faculty who serve as liaison between faculty, Northwestern central administration, and the Center for Comparative Medicine on matters relating to all aspects of animal care and use. Visit the website for more details.	New training and refresher courses are always available. Persons who work with nonhuman primates, biohazards, or in barrier environments must receive hands-on training from the Center for Comparative Medicine training staff. Contact CCM at 312-503-2758 or 312-908-8257 for training.
Online Training Available
New investigators and their staff, or current investigators and staff working with new animal species must complete core and species specific courses in order to work with animals and gain access to the facility. All online training is now accessed through the AALAS Learning Library. In order to use the library you must first be assigned an account. To obtain your account and log-in, Research staff should contact: Bruce Roberts, OPRS-IACUC at 312-503-9339 or via email b-roberts@northwestern.edu CCM staff should contact: Sue Kallay, Quality Assurance and Training Dept. at 312-503-1560 or via email s-kallay@northwestern.edu
Post Approval Monitoring Program
The goal of the post approval monitoring process at Northwestern is to review active protocols to ensure research is being conducted in accordance with what is written and approved. The protocols are selected randomly or as a result of a request by veterinary staff, care staff or lab personnel. The laboratory is visited by the Pam Program Administrator often with an accompanying veterinarian. Procedures on the selected protocol are observed and any drift away from the protocol is noted. The investigator then has the opportunity to correct any deviations by improving techniques or by submitting an amendment to the protocol. The visit is as informal as possible and It is also an opportunity for the investigators to request any help they may need from CCM. Findings are reported at the next IACUC meeting. The report of the visit and any follow up visits are filed in the investigators IACUC protocol file. The laboratories receive a brief follow up visit 2-4 months after the first to document that any deficiencies highlighted in the first visit have been rectified. Any questions or concerns regarding the PAM Program should be addressed to: Susan Kallay PAM Proram Administrator at: 312-503-1560 or pam-program@northwestern.edu
Post Approval Monitoring Documents
PAM Documents (older version) PAM Documents (newer version, compatible w/Macintosh) PAM Program
Aseptic Technique Training Course
The Aseptic Technique Training Course was developed by the Animal Health and Care Section of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It is available for viewing using Quicktime or Windows Media Player.
Occupational Health Program
Allergies are a big risk in our area. As part of becoming an authorized user of the CCM Facilities, you need to visit the NU Corporate Health Center in the Galter Pavillion of NMH and take part in a health screening examination by a licensed physician. There is no cost for this mandatory activity. More Information is available on our New Researcher page and also on the Policy and Guidelines page.