Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Amy Chuang, M.S., RQAP-GLP, CPIA
Director for the Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP)
Office of Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Box 980568
800 E. Leigh St., Suite 3000
Richmond, VA 23298
(804)828-6587
kchuang@vcu.edu
Amy (Kuei-Lan) Chuang is the Director of the Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), within the Office of Vice President for Research and Innovation. In this capacity, Amy oversees all aspects of VCU’s animal research program, ensuring that the university remains in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations governing the ethical treatment of animals in research. Since assuming this role in January 2018, she has been dedicated to fostering a culture of transparency, ethical integrity, and scientific rigor within the research community.
Before her promotion to Director, Amy served as Associate Director of the ACUP for five years, where she worked closely with faculty, staff, and researchers to streamline protocol submissions, develop training programs, and improve overall animal care practices. In this position, she played a pivotal role in shaping VCU’s animal research policies, ensuring the university met the highest standards of care. Amy’s earlier experiences include serving as the Assistant Director for Animal Research for three years, and a decade of work as a Compliance Analyst and GLP Quality Assurance Auditor in VCU’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety, where she gained expertise in regulatory compliance and laboratory standards.
Amy holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Medical College of Virginia and is both a Certified Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA) and a Registered Quality Assurance Professional in Good Laboratory Practice (RQAP-GLP). These certifications underscore her commitment to maintaining ethical and quality standards in animal care and use.
Over the years, Amy has distinguished herself as a leader in education and training in the animal research community. She organized and led the IACUC 101 series in 2006 and 2014, in collaboration with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and VCU, providing researchers and administrators with vital knowledge about regulations, best practices, and ethical considerations in animal research. Her passion for education continues through her organization of training programs, designed to empower researchers with the skills and knowledge they need to maintain compliance and uphold high standards of care.
In addition to her leadership in education, Amy has extensive experience in developing institutional policies, fostering collaborations with external agencies, and providing guidance on complex regulatory matters. She works closely with researchers and external stakeholders to promote innovation in animal care practices while ensuring adherence to rigorous compliance standards. Under her leadership, VCU’s animal research program has become known for its excellence and dedication to animal welfare.
Amy’s leadership style is characterized by her emphasis on collaboration, transparency, and continual improvement. She believes that fostering open communication between researchers, staff, and oversight bodies is key to the success of the ACUP, and she is committed to advancing animal care practices in ways that enhance both scientific research and animal welfare.
B17 - Effectively Managing the Use of Controlled Substances in Research
Monday, November 18, 2024
1:45 PM – 3:00 PM PT