What is the role of the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)?

• A. Issuing grant funds to research institutions
• B. Interpreting and implementing the PHS policy and evaluating institutional compliance with it
• C. Conducting routine laboratory inspections for animal care
• D. Approving all experimental protocols for funding

Answer: (B)

The main function being tested is how OLAW enforces and interprets the policy on humane care and use of laboratory animals and checks that institutions comply with it. OLAW interprets and implements the Public Health Service Policy, guiding how institutions design and conduct animal care and use programs, and it assesses whether those institutions are meeting the policy’s requirements. This includes reviewing institutional assurances, monitoring ongoing compliance (often through annual or semiannual reporting and oversight), and providing guidance to help facilities meet standards. It does not issue grant funds, conduct routine laboratory inspections, or approve all experimental protocols for funding. Grant funds come from the funding agency, routine inspections are typically carried out by IACUCs or other regulatory bodies, and protocol approval for funding involves multiple reviews, not OLAW’s sole mandate.