The University of Arizona Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Handbook

INTRODUCTION

In today's society much controversy exists concerning the use of animals in research. In the past 10 years, public opinion polls have shown a remarkable decline in the number of Americans who strongly support animal research. In the mid-1980's, more than 70% of the adult population showed strong support for humane animal research; recent poles have shown an erosion to less than 55%. Polls of our nation's young people show less than 33% believe that animal research is necessary or humane. Even those who support research have a poor understanding of how research is conducted and most still express concern that regulations governing the use of animals are not stringent enough.

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) was first passed in 1966 to address the concerns of the American public regarding the acquisition and use of animals in research. To ensure adherence to the Act, the Congress established a self-oversight mechanism for all research institutions; this oversight is through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The 1985 Amendments to the AWA and concurrent changes in the Public Health Service Policy of Use of Animals by Awardee Institutions (PHS Policy), increased the oversight responsibilities of the IACUC. Today, every institution conducting animal-based research, teaching or testing, must establish an IACUC to oversee the institution's animal care and use program. The IACUC's membership and responsibilities are mandated and defined by federal law and carried out through local policy.

At the University of Arizona, the President, as Chief Executive Officer, appoints members of the Committee and has ultimate responsibility for all animal use by the University. Functionally, the President has designated the Vice President for Research (VPR) as the University's Institutional Official, and the IACUC reports to this individual. The IACUC advises the VPR on issues related to animal care and use and makes recommendations for change in the Program or facilities. Certain responsibilities of the Committee are not advisory, but carry the mandate of federal law for the IACUC to be the final authority with regards to the welfare of animals used by the institution.

The University of Arizona's Animal Care and Use Program encompasses all animals, with the exception of terrestrial invertebrates, used by the University for research, testing, education, or any other purpose. In addition to the IACUC, the Program is composed of the VPR, University Animal Care (UAC) and members of the University community who use animals. Often research investigators view the IACUC and UAC as synonymous; each is autonomous. UAC is under the purview of the Committee in much the same way researchers are. It is UAC's responsibility to carry out the Program for the IACUC and VPR, providing support to the research and teaching programs of the University through acquisition and care of animals used by the University community. In simple terms, IACUC is the regulatory arm of the Program and UAC is the administrative.

The use of animals in research and teaching is a privilege carrying with it unique professional and moral obligations to ensure that animals are treated humanely and in accordance with the policies of the University of Arizona, the regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, and other laws and policies of the federal government and other agencies. The ultimate responsibility for compliance with regulations that affect the care and use of animals lies with the animal users themselves; thus, it is of paramount importance that each of you have knowledge of the regulatory requirements and local policies. Every person using animals, whether investigator, technician, student, or instructor, must be aware of and abide by their attendant obligations to assure that animals utilized by the University's programs are used in a humane manner.

It is also necessary for all who perform animal research, teaching, or testing, to ensure that animals are utilized only if the information gained promises to contribute to understanding of fundamental biological principles or to the development of knowledge that can be expected to benefit humans or animals. The tenets of the "3Rs" approach to animal research, "Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement" should be followed at all times. Animals should be used only when the researcher's best efforts to find an alternative model have failed. When there is no acceptable alternative, researchers should employ the most humane methods, using the smallest number of appropriate animals necessary to obtain statistically valid results. Only through ensuring that research is performed appropriately and humanely can we be assured the continued privilege of using animal models in our quest for knowledge.

The IACUC Handbook contains information regarding the federal regulations impacting animal use and local policies established by the IACUC to implement the Committee's mandated oversight responsibilities. The Handbook should be used in conjunction with the University of Arizona Animal Care and Use Program Handbook which is available through University Animal Care.

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Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

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07/07/2008