Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC)

ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (ACUC)

The animal care and use committee (ACUC) operates at the institutional level and is mandated by federal laws and national policies. Functions of the ACUC include 1) the review of the animal care portions of projects to determine if the appropriate animal model and appropriate numbers of animals have been chosen, and if personnel are properly trained and knowledgeable in the proper use of anesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia, 2) to conduct semi-annual, unannounced inspections of facilities to ensure the humane care, treatment and transport of animals, and 3) to support the attending veterinarian, making sure he or she has access to all animal facilities, and aiding the veterinarian in training of personnel and review of protocols and facilities. (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/oldbib/acuc.htm) It is a necessary committee for institutions that use animals in teaching and research.

—  IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

—  The mission of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is to ensure the humane care and use of animals in research and teaching and to ensure compliance with guidelines and regulations.

—  IACUC's vision is to ensure the humane care and use of animals while interpreting the regulations in a practical, meaningful, and reasonable manner that facilitates valuable research and teaching.

—  The charge of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee as mandated by NIH's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and the USDA is to ensure the  humane care and use of animals used in research and compliance with guidelines and regulations.