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Announcement of the New CCAC Director of Standards
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Marc T. Avey as Director of Standards, effective August 3, 2021. Dr. Avey comes to the CCAC with a uniquely broad skillset and perspective on the methods, management, and implementation of evidence-based guideline development, in areas including animal-based research and public health.
Dr. Avey completed his Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Alberta, exploring the neuroethology of auditory perception in songbirds. He then completed two fellowships, one in animal policy development at the CCAC, and one on preclinical translation of animal research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
Dr. Avey is an expert in preclinical animal reporting guidelines and clinical translation. He maintains an extensive network with national and international leaders in experimental design, reporting, and translation of preclinical/toxicology animal studies, as well as within the clinical and public health guideline development methods community. He has extensive knowledge in the principles of the Three Rs and recognizes that the reporting and experimental design of research has tremendous room for improvement, which could significantly improve the reproducibility of animal-based research.
As a scientist and manager, his focus has been on the gaps that exist between evidence and policy to achieve objectives such as improving the welfare of animals in science, and improving the health and well-being of Canadians through public health guidelines. Most recently, he played an integral role in the implementation of the Canada Border Testing Program, supporting the Public Health Agency of Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout his professional career, he has also volunteered on several committees of national and international organizations, and has provided teaching and mentorship at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, and University of Alberta.
On behalf of the CCAC, I would like to welcome Dr. Avey back to the organization as the Director of Standards. He will play an integral role in guidelines development and in the implementation of strategies to replace, reduce, and refine animal use, and we look forward to working with him towards achieving our mandate.
Mr. Pierre Verreault
Executive Director, CCAC