| REGULATIONS AND
GOVERNING BODIES INSTITUTIONAL
ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC)
RESPONSIBILITIES AND STRUCTURE
IACUC Responsibilities
Both the Animal Welfare Act and the Public
Health Service Policy require colleges and universities to establish
committees charged with the responsibility of overseeing institutions’
animal program, facilities and procedures. At the University of Kentucky,
the IACUC serves this function. The Committee’s specific duties are as
follows:
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Review at least once every six months
the institution’s program for humane care and use of animals;
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Inspect at least once every six months
all animal facilities and study areas;
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Prepare reports of these evaluations;
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Review/investigate concerns involving
animal care and use resulting from public complaints and from reports of
noncompliance received from within the institution;
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Make recommendations to the Vice
President for Research and Graduate Studies regarding any aspect of the
University’s animal program, facilities or personnel training;
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Review, approve, require modifications,
or withhold approval of proposed animal use activities/protocols;
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Review, approve, require modifications
in, or withhold approval of proposed significant changes in previously
approved activities/protocols;
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Conduct continuing review of previously
approved protocols at intervals specified in the federal regulations;
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Be authorized to suspend an activity
involving animals.
IACUC Structure
The IACUC reports to the Executive Vice
President for Research. Its members are appointed by the President and
include the University Veterinarian, the Director of the Division of
Laboratory Animal Resources, faculty who have experience in research with
animals, a member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area, and an
individual who is not affiliated with the University of Kentucky.
The IACUC is composed of four
subcommittees: Executive Committee; College of Agriculture Subcommittee;
Lexington Campus Subcommittee; and Medical Center Subcommittee. The
Subcommittees’ functions are outlined below:
The Executive Committee is responsible for
monitoring and reviewing the University’s program, facilities, and personnel
training, for preparing the semiannual reports, and for making
recommendations to the Executive Vice President for Research regarding any
aspect of the University’s animal program. (See Appendix III for
organizational chart)
In their respective areas, the
Agriculture, Lexington Campus, and Medical Center Subcommittees are
responsible for conducting initial, continuing or modification reviews of
specific protocols/activities and for recommending full IACUC review when
appropriate. The subcommittees also are responsible for conducting the
semiannual inspections of the facilities and programs in their respective
sectors.
The College of Agriculture Subcommittee of
the IACUC is also the College of Agriculture Animal Care Committee. In this
capacity the committee oversees all use of animals by the College and
Agricultural Experiment Stations and is advisory to the Dean. The Dean of
the College of Agriculture is the principal administrator responsible for
all animals used in the College’s program.
The Agriculture, Lexington Campus, and
Medical Center Subcommittees are chaired by faculty from the respective
areas. The subcommittee chairs and members serve as a valuable resource for
faculty. Contact the University Veterinarian (257-2549) for a listing of the
members of each subcommittee.
Kentucky Open Meetings Law
The court has ruled that all meetings of
the IACUC and its subcommittees shall be open to the public. The court also
directed that animal use protocols shall be confidential since information
therein is the intellectual property of the investigator. |
