INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE

ABOUT IACUC

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Case Western Reserve University

• conduct review of all proposals involving the use of vertebrate animals in research, teaching and testing
• oversee policies for housing, health and care of animals
• oversee program for occupational health and safety of staff and researchers in contact with animals
• oversee program for training of husbandry and research staff in the care and use of animals
• ensure individual and institutional compliance with regulations monitoring and inspecting facilities
• review current and develop new policies and procedures
• provide a means to address investigator concerns about all aspects of animal care and use such as housing, welfare, pathogen control and the ability to perform scientific research with animal models

IACUC Members

IACUC members are appointed by the Institutional Official and University President on the recommendation of the IACUC chair. Appointments to the IACUC will be made such that the composition of the IACUC meets all pertinent regulations (for example, the stipulations of the Guide to the Care and Use of Animals that the IACUC include at least one each of a laboratory animal veterinarian, a practicing scientist and a public nonaffiliated member). Appointment to the IACUC is for a term of 3 years, reviewed annually. An annual review of appointments will be conducted by the IACUC chair. The review of appointments are based on reasonable fulfillment of the responsibilities of an IACUC member.

Responsibilities of IACUC members:

• attend IACUC meetings regularly; attend the annual IACUC retreat
• review of assigned protocols in a timely manner
• read all submitted protocols
• participate in regularly scheduled inspections and laboratory visits
• participate in investigations of allegations of non-compliance
• inform IACUC Office staff of any absence from the University of longer than one week
• In making appointments and the review of appointments it is recognized that diversity in opinion and viewpoints is important to the function of the IACUC.

The IACUC Chair

The Chair of the IACUC will be elected by the IACUC. Normally, a chair will be a scientist member of the IACUC. Veterinary Staff are not eligible to be chair. Candidates must have had at least one year of immediate prior experience on the committee. The elected individual will serve one year as chair-elect, one year as chair, and one year as immediate past chair. In the absence of the chair, the chair-elect or past chair will assume the responsibilities of the chair.

Responsibilities of the Chair

• establish the agenda for monthly IACUC meetings
• conduct IACUC meetings
• guide IACUC deliberations
• provide leadership on activities, policies, procedures
• lead the IACUC in investigations of allegations of non-compliance as described in the Policies and Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Non-compliance
• communicate IACUC decisions and concerns to:
• Institutional Official
• Research Staff
• Administrative Staff
• Veterinary Staff
• Others
• advise the Institutional Official on matters relating to IACUC membership, operation and support as well as the institution's animal care and use program
• perform final review and approval of all protocols, annual reviews and addenda

The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the chair-elect, chair, and immediate past chair. The role of the Executive Committee is to provide a core leadership group for the IACUC. The chair consults with the Executive Committee while considering issues of importance to the operation and direction of the IACUC. The Executive Committee also assists the chair in dealing with issues that require a more rapid response than can be provided by the entire IACUC. The executive committee is not empowered to act on behalf of the IACUC, except as specifically permitted by IACUC-approved policy. The chair will communicate Executive Committee deliberations and actions to the IACUC.