Registration
Live Workshops
Date
November 17 & 18, 2026
Location
Online
Registration
Only open to USDA employees, contractors and cooperators working with USDA! If you are a contractor or cooperator working with USDA but don't have a USDA email, please email awic@usda.gov.
If you need an accommodation to attend, please contact us by phone [301-504-5755] or email awic@usda.gov five business days in advance.
On Demand Workshop
Can't join us for the live workshop? Take our online, self-paced version of the workshop instead.
About the Workshop
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations require principal investigators to provide Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) with documentation demonstrating that their activities do not unnecessarily duplicate previous experiments and that alternatives to procedures that may cause more than momentary pain or distress to animals have been considered (9 C.F.R. § 2.31(d)(1)(ii-iii)). Alternatives are any methods that result in the replacement or reduction of animals, or refinement of experimental techniques to minimize pain or distress.
This interactive workshop is designed for USDA employees, contractors, and cooperators involved in animal research and testing. Participants will engage in discussions and hands-on practice examples as they learn to:
- Identify sections of animal use protocols where 3Rs methods (replacement, reduction, and refinement) could be implemented
- Distinguish between databases, non-database sources, AI tools, and other resources for finding 3Rs information
- Generate effective keywords and construct search strings tailored to specific research questions.
- Evaluate search results for relevancy, synthesize findings, and document searches suitable for IACUC review and compliance.
- Recognize common mistakes in alternatives literature searches and apply strategies to avoid them, based on AWIC’s experience and guidance.
- Utilize AWIC’s literature searching service and other resources to support protocol development, compliance, and continuous improvement in animal research.
Customizable Training Opportunities
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) also offers free, customizable, virtual trainings/workshops upon request. These presentations can cover a variety of topics including a summary of the Animal Welfare Act's requirements, history of the Animal Welfare Act, 3Rs alternatives, how to conduct a literature search for alternatives, or careers in animal welfare and with the USDA. Email awic@usda.gov to learn more about scheduling a presentation for your organization.