Animal Care
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a federally mandated committee that reviews all protocols involving animals to ensure that they are justified by their benefits and minimize any animal pain or suffering that might occur. The use of animal research and teaching is a privilege that comes with both professional and moral obligations.
The IACUC is dedicated to supporting the education and research mission of UHCL while maintaining compliance with Federal and State animal care principles, guidelines, and regulations. This is achieved by the review and approval of all projects in teaching and research involving the use of live vertebrate animals by the IACUC prior to initiation.
For Investigators:
- IACUC Protocol Form (revised November 2020)
- Instructions for Completing and Submitting IACUC Protocols
Required Training:
- Occupational Health & Safety Program (OHSP) Blackboard Training Instructions
- CITI Program Training Instructions for Investigators
In addition, the IACUC also reviews the institutional program for animal use and conducts inspections of all areas where animals are housed and used.
Animal Welfare Concerns
If you have any concerns, fill out an Animal Incident Report and submit it to the IACUC Chair at fritzj@uhcl.edu (copy sponsoredprograms@uhcl.edu) or file a complaint.
For Committee Members:
- Required CITI Training Instructions
- OLAW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidebook
- AAALAC Resources for IACUCs
General Resources
- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Ed. (National Research Council, 2010)
- AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (American Veterinary Medical Association, 2020)
- NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
- USDA Animal Welfare Act and Regulations
- USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
- USDA National Agricultural Library - Searching for alternatives to the use of laboratory animals