1. Institutional Animal Care and
Use Committee (IACUC)
From Research to Publishing Journal …

2. “Review of individual
Proposals/Projects by IACUC was
encouraged but not required” – IACUC
Guidebook

3. A Quality of Animal Care and Use
Program …

The Research Team





Institutional Official
Researchers
IACUC
Animal Care Staff (AV and technical staff)
Policies, Procedures, Resources and
Facilities

4. Institutional Official (IO)



Be informed about the program
Be engaged in the program
Sustained and visible support


In a position to influence institutional priorities
Can assure sufficient monetary and personnel
resources are allocated

5. IACUC




Clearly articulate policies and procedures so
that everyone understands expectations
Implement regulations using scientifically
sound, performance-based standards
Establish effective training programs that are
realistic
Assure the public of quality animal care

6. Researchers


Plan research in the context of quality animal care
Accept the responsibility


Engage in the process




Work to strengthen your animal care and use program
IACUC participation
Know the regulations
Be willing to communicate with administrators,
regulators, and Congress
Be proactive

7. Animal Care Staff



Ensure adequate and proper animal care and
use
Work in concert with the IACUC and
Investigators
Exercise professional judgment to facilitate
the science in the context of animal welfare

8. Animal Care and Use Program
Animal Care Staff
Each component must
make its contribution so
that the whole is greater
than the sum of the parts
Animal
Care and
Use
Program
Researchers
IACUC

9. Animal Care and Use Program (cont)






Properly constituted and functioning IACUC
Adequate veterinary care program
Occupational health and safety program
(OHSP)
Personnel training program
Environment, housing and management
program for animals
Appropriately maintained facilities

10. Components of Animal Care and Use Program

11. What IACUC do?




Oversees and evaluates entire animal care
and use program
Ensures compliance with “Guide”, PHS
Policy, AWRs
Represents institution and community
Serves as local oversight arm for APHIS/AC,
NIH/OLAW, AAALAC

12. IACUC Member





Chairperson
Veterinarian
Scientist / Non-scientist
Non-affiliated members
Alternate members

13. Chairperson


Knowledgeable and effective leader to an
effective IACUC
Need the full support of the IO

14. Veterinarian

According to PHS Policy and AWRs,
veterinarian must have;


Training / experience in lab animal science and
medical OR
In the care of species (animal) being used

15. Scientist / Non-scientist


A practicing scientist experienced in research
involving animals
A member whose primary concerns are in a
non-scientific area

16. Non-affiliated Members

Intended to represent general community
interests


Bring a non-institutional perspective to the
research
Equal status to every other committee
member

Should be provided the opportunity to
participate in all aspects of IACUC functions

17. Alternative Members



Should receives training similar or identical to
the training provided to regular IACUC
members
May not count toward a quorum at the same
time OR
Act in an official member capacity at the
same time

18. Conflict of Interest




Member of IACUC shall not review / approve
activity that has conflict of interest
Member shall notify IACUC Chair and not
participate in review / approval
Member potentially competing research
program
Member’s personal biases may interfere with
his / her impartial judgment

19. Responsibilities of IO

Maintain animal care and use program based
on recommendation / advise from;



IACUC
Veterinarian
IACUC professionals and administrative staff

Personnel training

Occupational health and safety

Maintenance of facilities

20. Responsibilities of Veterinarian




Selection and utilization of suitable anesthetic
and analgesic agents and methods of
euthanasia
Appropriate selection of species for research
projects
Proper performance of surgical procedures
Adequate pre-operative, surgical and postoperative care

21. Facility Review

All animal housing facilities must be
inspected in semiannual review, including




Satellite facilities
Areas in which surgical manipulation are
performed
Animal study areas
Holding facilities

22. Categories to be Inspected …











Sanitation
Food & water provisions
Animal identification
Waste disposal
Animal health records
Controlled and/or expired drugs
Environment control
OHS concerns
Staff training
Knowledge of applicable rules & regulations
Security

23. Documentation

Written report of semiannual program review
and facility inspection



The report to be signed by a majority of IACUC
Describe the adherence to AWRs, PHS Policy
and “Guide”
Identify deviations

24. Animal Enviroment





Housing
Temperature
Ventilation
Illumination
Noise

25. Husbandry




Animal Identification
Feeding
Watering
Bedding

26. Facility Maintenance



Cleaning and sanitation
Water disposal
Pest control

27. Occupational Health and Safety



Conduct a health and safety review of
research activities
Implement procedures to identify and
address non-experimental hazards
Ensure personnel comply with health and
safety requirements

28. Elements of OHSP






Administrative procedures
Facility design and operation
Risk assessment
Exposure control
Education and training
Equipment performance

29. Personnel Training and Education

30. Fundamental Issues


Protocol Review Criteria (Table A – C.1)
Proposal review procedures




Full committee review
Designated member review
Categories of IACUC actions
Reviewed of changes to approved protocols

31. The 3Rs Concept

Replacement / utilizing non-animal models





Living systems
Non-living systems
Computer simulations
Reduction of number of animal used
Refinement / elimination of unnecessary
pain and distress in animal

32. IACUC Deficiencies in Rank Order





Protocol Review
Semiannual Evaluations
Committee Composition & Member
Participation
Policies & Documentation
Training

33. Protocol Review

Justification for the numbers of animals used

Expedited review

Review of amendments

Alternatives to painful procedures

Management/evaluation of pain and distress

34. Semiannual Evaluations

Evaluation of animal activity areas

Classification of deficiencies as “minor” or
“significant”

Schedule and plan for correction

Follow-up to ensure schedule and plan met

35. Committee Composition and Member
Participation

Nonaffiliated member not appointed

Nonaffiliated member not attending meetings

Nonaffiliated member not participating in
semiannual evaluations

36. Policies and Documentation

Lack of policies/guidelines for common
experimental procedures (e.g., use of
adjuvants, tail snips)

Failure to review policies/guidelines regularly

Failure to record committee deliberations

37. Training

Failure to train (or to document the training
of) IACUC members

Failure to train (or to document the training
of) researchers

38. The IO, IACUC,
and Vet must
function as a
team!

39. Animal Care and Use Program

Institutional Official (IO)

Attending Veterinarian (Vet)

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
(IACUC)
Well-Balanced Program!

40. Implications on the published journals?
Still remain unclear !!! 

41. Animal Research – Guidelines and
Regulations








PHS
OLAW
NIH
IACUC
AAALAC
ARENA
AALAS
ARENA/OLAW IACUC Guidebook

42. Thank you !