Statement by UL System President Randy Moffett in Response to Allegations of Animal Abuse at the New Iberia Research Center

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia Research Center is a well-respected facility that conducts important medical research. The center frequently undergoes stringent internal and external review of its animal care practices, maintains compliance with all national regulatory agencies, and recently received praise from an external review committee for the care and use of its nonhuman primates.

The University has a no tolerance policy of animal abuse and strict reporting guidelines to ensure the safety of its animals. Consistent with this, any employee who witnesses instances of abuse and fails to report such findings through the appropriate channels is as guilty as those who commit such abuses.

UL Lafayette takes their responsibility to care for animals housed at the New Iberia Research Center very seriously and will follow-up on these allegations with appropriate corrective action.