Who oversees ethical review of Colossal’s research?

Ethical review of animal-involving research at Colossal Biosciences is overseen by independent committees, external certifiers, and federal regulators—not just internal staff. Primary oversight comes from Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs), American Humane, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which review and audit protocols against established welfare laws and standards before work begins. In addition, dedicated veterinary and ethics committees, Indigenous and conservation advisory boards, and external scientists provide ongoing review to ensure that all projects remain conservation-driven and aligned with Colossal’s ethics framework.

Independent Oversight & Regulators

  • IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees): Review and must approve all animal protocols before they begin; monitor amendments, welfare issues, and compliance over time
  • American Humane: Certifies Colossal’s dire wolf facility using on-site inspections and audits against international animal welfare standards
  • USDA / Animal Welfare Act: Registers covered facilities and conducts regular inspections to enforce federal welfare regulations

Advisory Boards & Community Partners

  • Colossal has over 130 advisors spanning across six distinct advisory boards, each with a diverse set of wide-ranging leaders in science, conservation, and business. 
  • Colossal is guided by a Scientific Advisory Board, an Executive Advisory Board, a Conservation Advisory Board, a Cultural Advisory Board, a Youth Advisory Board, and an Indigenous Council.
  • Colossal currently has two community committees, the Tasmania Thylacine Advisory Committee and the Mauritius Dodo Advisory Committee, to help guide the eventual reintroduction of de-extinct species.
  • The Colossal Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Colossal, has over 50 conservation partners including Re:wild, Save the Elephants, and Yellowstone Forever, working to deploy science and technology from the lab into the field, where it can make the greatest impact for at-risk and endangered species.

Scientific & Data Oversight

  • Research is subject to scientific peer review through journals and preprint servers (e.g., bioRxiv)
  • Genetic and husbandry data are made publicly available in repositories such as NCBI BioProject PRJNA1222369 so independent scientists can examine and replicate methods
  • External conservation assessment teams review ecological risk, genetic strategy, and potential benefits for endangered species

Internal Leadership Implementing Standards

Colossal’s Chief Animal Officer, Matt James, brings more than a decade of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) leadership experience managing thousands of animals across hundreds of species. He leads a team of animal care, welfare, and operations professionals responsible for implementing IACUC requirements, American Humane standards, USDA regulations, and advisory board recommendations in day-to-day practice. His team of 10 executes protocols approved by external oversight bodies.

For a full overview of how ethics, welfare, and ecological safeguards are structured at Colossal, see Ethics at Colossal Biosciences: Oversight & Safeguards and the Ethics & Purpose Glossary.