The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) has received the grand prize from the Government of Korea for running an exemplary Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and for ensuring proper protection and welfare of experimental animals.

On top of running a standard IACUC, IVI has also earned high marks in management of animal experiment facilities to receive the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister’s Prize.

IVI has been making far-reaching efforts to ensure and proper protection and welfare of laboratory animals by following not only related Korean standards but also international standards in areas including the establishment and operation of IACUC, review process of animal research protocols, post-approval monitoring of protocols, and training of researchers.

“Ethical management of laboratory animals and animal welfare are essential elements in the research and development of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals,” said Dr. Jae Seung Yang, Chair of IVI’s IACUC. “As a nonprofit international organization devoted to vaccines for global health, we will continue efforts to ensure excellent operation of IACUC and ethical management of laboratory animals.”

Since 2018, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) under the ministry has been honoring three organizations in Korea annually for exemplary operation of IACUC with the Agricultural Minister’s prize and two APQA Commissioner’s prizes.

APQA said, “Acknowledging organizations for excellent operation of IACUC with a prize will contribute to creating an atmosphere for ethical animal research at institutions conducting animal experimentation.”