Laboratory Animal Medicine Discussion on Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The committee must comprise of a veterinarian who is responsible for the IACUC. There can be more than one veterinarian involved, but one must be defined as such and be experienced and have training in the care of the species being used. The CEO or Chief Executive officer may appoint an OI. The chair is a leader who must effectively support the IO and they should not be in a position to put their career at risk. There may be a co-chair for large programs. There should be a nonaffiliated member who represent the community and bring an outside perspective to the project. There should be a scientist and a nonscientist who are involved in the research.

The IACUC will look over animal care and ensure it is being properly done as according to the law. They will semiannually look over their organizations animal care and use, inspect the facility and any satellite facilities. They will give reports to the IO of their evaluations and review the animal’s needs and if their welfare is being addressed. They may make recommendations regarding training, facilities or anything else that has to do with the animal program. They will have to review and approve what is done with the  animals and how they are cared for. They will have to propose any changes if there are going to be any changes in the animal’s ongoing activities and this means they need to reviewed and approved.

Twice a year the unaffiliated member evaluates the facility to ensure the animals are being humanely treated. The IO will get a copy of the twice a year report which may make recommendations affecting the animals’ care.   The facilities where the animals are housed will be monitored and inspected. Any area where teaching, testing or research of the appropriate animal types will be looked over. 

There are a lot of clerical tasks that are involved in the committees activities. This is to ensure the animals are well cared for when there is not someone there to monitor the animals’ progress. This may mean that there are protocols that have to be monitored to ensure they are done correctly and that the coordinating of the meetings, inspections and site visits are done in a timely manner. New protocols are made and have to be approved and go through a process.

I think this effectively helps to monitor the humane treatment of animals. There is a training necessity for IACUC members. This is so they know what the policies, laws, rules and regulations are. However, its not just the team that needs training. The research facility will need to be appropriately equipped with properly trained staff which takes time, money and effort. This is all to ensure the animals are humanely treated and properly cared for.

Source:

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidebook. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/GuideBook.pdf