Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
If you are witness to a situation of non-compliance, please contact Dr. Thomas P. Wilson, IACUC Chair, at 423-425-4713 or Dr. Cheryl Murphy, Director of Research Integrity, at 423-425-4443.
The university regards the use of animals in research testing, evaluation, assessment and education/teaching to be an essential component for continued progress in the field of science. It is committed to the highest ethical standard of animal care. Federal regulations mandate the establishment of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to provide guidance, to oversee the animal care and use program, and to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
Two federal agencies, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Public Health Service, require institutions using animals in research, testing, evaluation, assessment and educational/teaching activities to appoint an IACUC and charge the IACUC with specific responsibilities. Committee members include scientists, non-scientists, and unaffiliated residents of the community. IACUC members review all requests for approval to conduct any activity with animals. The IACUC also conducts inspections of all areas where animals are housed and used, reviews the institutional program for animal use, and reports ts findings to the certifying agencies semi-annually.
Be Proactive
It is imperative that you discuss plans to utilize animals in research, testing, evaluation, assessment, and education/teaching with the IACUC PRIOR to initiating the activities. This includes populations housed at the university or living in the field. Activities involving animals may only be deemed exempt from IACUC oversight by the IACUC chairperson.
No activities involving animals may start without IACUC approval.
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) governs the interpretation of the Public Health Service (PHS) policy on humane care and use of laboratory animals, supports educational programs, and monitors compliance with the Policy by assured institutions to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported research. The UTC animal research facility has earned and maintains OLAW assurance certification, indicating compliance with PHS policies. The UTC assurance number is A4450-01.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Bylaws
For additional information on submission procedures, review status, and other general inquiries, please contact [email protected], or 423-425-4443.