Policy 8-94: Research with Animals

Background
Federal agencies require that colleges and universities ensure the appropriate care and use of all non-human animals used for research, research training, or biological testing. "Animal" is defined as any live, vertebrate animal used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation or biological testing or for related purposes.

Purpose
To oversee compliance with federal guidelines, Centenary College establishes with this policy an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) that will establish and monitor procedures relating to animal research under guidelines for laboratory animal welfare specified in the Animal Welfare Act (P.L. 89-54, amended by P.L. 91-579 and P.L. 94-279) and Public Health Service Policy on Human Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (OPRR, Health Research Extension Act, 1985, P.L. 99-185, Rev. 9/86). Guiding principles are specified by U.S. Govenmnent Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research and Training. The college shall conduct its activities involving animals in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (U.S. Dept. Health and Human Services, NIH Publication No. 85-23, 1985), which is widely employed as a model for protection of animals in research and other activities.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The IACUC shall be appointed by the Provost and be composed of at least five members including:
1. A licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine;
2. A faculty member experienced in animal research;
3. A non-scientist;
4. A person having no affiliation with Centenary College;
5. Chair of the Department of Biology (convener and chair)
6. The Director of Research
7. A member of the Department of Public Safety

A single individual may represent more than one of these categories. The Chair of the IACUC may also request appointment of additional, non-voting members to provide additional expertise as needed. These requests must be approved by the Provost.

The duties - of the IACUC shall be to:
1. Review at least once a year the institution's program for humane care and use of animals;
2. Inspect at least once a year all institutional animal facilities;
3. Review concerns involving the care and use of animals;
4. Submit annual reports to the Provost on the state of the animal care program and animal facilities;
5. Make recommendations to the Provost regarding any aspect of the animal program, facilities, or personnel training;
6. Review and approve, require modifications in, or withhold approval of sections of grant proposals relating to the use of animals according to the provisions of this policy.
7. Review and approve, require modifications in, or withhold approval of proposed significant changes regarding the use of animals in ongoing activities;
8. Recommend suspension of an activity involving animals if the activity is not in compliance with federal regulations (e.g., Animal Welfare Act, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals).

Animal Welfare Assurance
The IACUC is responsible for maintaining an approved "assurance" under Compliance with Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions with the Public Health Service, which is submitted to the Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR), National Institutes of Health (NIH). The assurance describes committee members, animal facilities, institutional procedures for the care and use of animal subjects, and other responsibilities of the committee.

Annual Report
At least once every twelve months, the committee shall prepare a letter for the Provost to send to OPRR. This report shall:
1. Describe any changes in the program for animal care and use, committee membership, or animal facilities, and any other significant changes since the last annual report. If there are no changes to report, the letter must state that there are none.
2. Specify the dates that the committee conducted its semi-annual evaluations of the program and facilities (see paragraphs a. through d. above), and the dates that the committee submitted the evaluations to the Provost.

Adopted, December 15, 1994; Last updated July, 1999, Last updated February, 2011.