About The IACUC
The UIUC
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) has been established in
accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service Policy on the
Humane Care and Use of Animals. The function of the IACUC is to provide
oversight and
assistance in ensuring compliance to all laws, regulations, and policies
governing the care and use of research and teaching animals.
Functions
of the Committee:
The Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service Policy describe the following
responsibilities for the IACUC:
- Review the research
facility's program for humane care and use of animals at least once every
six months.
- Inspect all of the research facility's animal facilities, including animal
study areas at least once every six months.
- Prepare reports of these inspections and submit them to the Vice Chancellor
for Research (VCR) or the Chancellor.
- Review concerns or complaints involving the care and use of animals at the
institution whether received from the public or research facility personnel.
- Make recommendations to the VCR regarding any aspect of the institution's
animal program, facilities, or personnel training.
- Review, approve, require modifications in (to secure approval) or withhold
approval of proposed activities related to the care and use of animals.
- Proposed activities may be subject to further appropriate review and approval
by officials of the research facility, but those officials may not approve
an activity involving the care and use of animals if it has not been approved
by the IACUC.
- Review, approve, require modifications in (to secure approval) or withhold
approval of significant changes regarding the care and use of animals in
ongoing activities.
- Proposed modifications may be subject to further appropriate review and approval
by officials of the research facility, but those officials may not approve
an activity involving the care and use of animals if it has not been approved
by the IACUC.
- Conduct ongoing reviews of activities at appropriate intervals as determined
by the IACUC, but not less than annually.
- Be authorized to suspend an activity involving animals if that activity is
not being conducted in accordance with the activities approved by the IACUC.
- If an activity is suspended, the VCR, with the IACUC, shall review the reasons
for suspension, take appropriate corrective action, and report that action
with a full explanation to APHIS and any Federal agency funding that activity.
Appointment and
Membership:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of each research
facility is required, by law, to appoint an IACUC. The persons appointed to this
committee must be qualified through experience to assess the research facility's
animal program, facilities, and procedures.
| The Animal Welfare Act
requires: |
- A minimum
of 3 members;
- A
Chairman;
- A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with training or experience
in laboratory animal science and medicine who has direct or delegated
program responsibility for activities involving animals at the research
facility; and
- A non-affiliated member. (This person is not
to be affiliated with the research facility in any way other than as a
member of the IACUC and cannot be a member of the immediate family of a
person who is affiliated with the research facility. This person is to
provide representation for the general community interests in the proper
care and treatment of animals. The nonaffiliated member cannot be paid
for his or her services on the committee, although parking, travel, and
meal expenses may be reimbursed.)
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Should the committee
consist of more than three members, no more than three members can be from
the same administrative unit of the
facility.
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| In addition to the above,
the Public Health Service Policy requires the following: |
- A minimum of 5 members;
- One
practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals; and
- One member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area (for
example, ethicist, lawyer, member of the clergy).
|
| An individual who meets the requirements of more than one of the
categories detailed above may fulfill more than one requirement. However,
no committee may consist of less than five
members. |
The IACUC at UIUC is
appointed by the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) and
currently has the following members:
- Seventeen
voting members and two ex-officio non-voting members;
- Two DVMs
with training or experience in laboratory animal science and
medicine;
- Two
non-affiliated members;
- Ten
practicing scientists experienced in research involving animals;
and
- Seven members whose
primary concerns are in a nonscientific area.
*(As is permitted
under PHS Policy some members may be counted in more than one
category.) |
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