Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Welcome
In this website you will learn about the IACUC at Pacific University, how it runs, and how faculty and students are expected to work with the committee at the outset of a research or teaching project involving animal subjects. Please read this introduction to acquaint yourself with our operating principles.
Who We Are
The purpose of the IACUC is to:
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ensure humane treatment of any and all laboratory and classroom animals;
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ensure availability of appropriate veterinary care;
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ensure proper training and safety of laboratory and classroom workers; and
- ensure that Pacific University has conformed to all federal regulations concerning animal use and well-being.
As stated by the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, each IACUC has a mandate to review their institution’s program for the care and use of animals and to inspect any animal facilities (including satellite facilities) every six months (olaw@od.nih.gov).
To uphold this charge, Pacific University policy requires all faculty, students, or staff involved with animal research or teaching activities to work directly and conscientiously with the IACUC:
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before a research or teaching activity is initiated;
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during a research or teaching activity if the protocol requires continuing review;
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during a research or teaching activity if the research protocol needs to change;
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during a research or teaching activity if an adverse event occurs; and
- after a research or teaching activity ends to close the file.
The committee has created templates and formalized procedures to guide you through this.
What to Expect
Before a research or teaching activity can commence, the IACUC will assess the effect of the proposed activities on the animals involved in the study. The IACUC has the sole authority to require revisions for proposed animal subject activities and to approve proposed activities. The IACUC, and, in some circumstances, other institutional officials, can also disapprove, suspend, or terminate animal subject activities. Note that the IACUC does not comment on the scientific merit of a proposed research design unless the merit is disproportionate with the potential effect on the animals.
The IACUC Chair will determine whether your planned activities fall under the federal guidelines for research or teaching with animal subjects (or one of the Co-Chairs, as the case may be). This practice is warranted because the IACUC is most familiar with the relevant federal regulations and interpretations thereof.
In the sections that follow are detailed instructions on how to work with the IACUC in making these determinations and in getting your research activities ready for implementation. We look forward to working with you.
IACUC Calendar
| Submission Date | Meeting Dates (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| Updated as information is provided. | Updated as information is provided. |
Reporting Concerns with Animal Well-Being
It is our role to ensure the well-being of all research or teaching animals used or housed at Pacific University. All reports are treated seriously and are investigated and corrective action is taken as appropriate. If you have a specific concern about an animal at Pacific University please contact the IACUC at iacuc@pacificu.edu.
If you have any questions about these materials, please contact the IACUC at iacuc@pacificu.edu.
- mammals or other USDA regulated species are used in the study;
- mammals are trapped or restrained;
- transport of animals occurs;
- animals are captured for a length of time that exceeds two hours; and
- invasive surgery is performed on the animals.
Alternative Media Submission
In certain situations, the principal investigator may provide information to the IACUC regarding the field study site in the form of pictures and videos.
Permits
The principal investigator is responsible for obtaining any necessary federal, state, or natural resource agency permits required for the study.
Resources
The following resources are available to help familiarize you with areas of potential concern in contemporary laboratory or classroom animal use. If you haven’t already done so, the IACUC strongly recommends that as you prepare your research or teaching proposal, you (the investigators) review the ethical guidelines associated with your protocol. The following links should help in this regard.