15.99.03.R0.03 Animal Care and Use
Effective January 1, 2004
1. Texas A&M University-Commerce strictly adheres to all federal, state and local regulations regarding the humane use of animals in research, teaching and testing. The University acknowledges and accepts its responsibilities for the care and use of animals involved in research, demonstration or teaching. The University will make a reasonable effort to ensure that all individuals involved in the care and use of animals understand their individual and collective responsibilities for compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to animal care and use. All research or teaching involving animals at this University will be regulated through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
2. Following Federal guidelines (Public Heath Service Policy), the President of the University will appoint an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) qualified through the experience and expertise of its members to oversee the institution's animal program facilities and procedures. The committee shall consist of not less than five members and shall include at least: 1) one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine who has direct or delegated program authority and responsibility for activities involving animals at the institution; 2) one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals; 3) one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area; and 4) one individual who is not affiliated with the institution in any way other than as a member of the IACUC.
3. The IACUC will:
a. Review at least once every six months the institution's program for humane care and use of animals.
b. Inspect at least once every six months all of the institution's animal facilities.
c. Prepare reports of the IACUC evaluations conducted and submit the reports to the Institutional Official.
d. Review concerns involving the care and use of animals at the institution.
e. Review and approve, require modifications in or withhold approval of activities, including significant changes related to the care and use of animals.
f. Be authorized to suspend an activity involving animals.
g. Provide training to faculty, staff and/or students in the appropriate procedures for the humane use of animals in research and teaching.
4. The IACUC will function in accordance with all applicable federal rules, the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, U.S. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals , and follow the procedures described in the University Animal Resources and Procedures Handbook.
5. All research, teaching or demonstration activities involving animals must be under an IACUC-approved protocol. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research is the Institutional Official overseeing the work of the IACUC.
6. The Chair of the IACUC will submit all documentation associated with the Committee's activities to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, which will maintain all relevant records. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research will help track and monitor submissions, reports, and maintain records related to all animal care and use. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research will be responsible for determining that all theses and dissertations involving animal research have received approval by the IACUC.
7. In accordance with federal regulations, approved protocols must be periodically reviewed. The type of species to be utilized dictates the length of the approval period, either one year or three years. A Continuation Review request form must be completed by the investigator and returned to the IACUC prior to the renewal date for review by the IACUC. All significant changes to research protocols involving the animals require an approved modification by the IACUC prior to implementation.
8. Research, teaching or demonstrations involving animals should be in accordance with the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research and Training ( Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, October 2000 ).
9. If the IACUC suspends an activity involving animals, the Institutional Official in consultation with the IACUC shall review the reasons for the suspension, take appropriate corrective action and report that action to the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
10. Applications and proposals that have been approved by the IACUC may be subject to further review and approval by officials of the University. However, those officials, including the Institutional Official, may not approve an activity involving the care and use of animals if it has not been approved by the IACUC nor may they overrule an IACUC decision to withhold approval of a protocol.
References: Procedure A15.08
Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-158)
Animal Welfare Act, 1985 amendment (P.L. 99-198)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (OLAW, 2000)
National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
USDA's Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations (2002)
CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Dean of Graduate Studies and Research