Useful
Links
The
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), is responsible
for the careful review of all protocols that involve the use of
live vertebrate animals in research, as well as for animal care
procedures and animal facilities. An IACUC is required to have
a minimum of 5 members. Members must include a scientist familiar
with the use of research animals, a veterinarian with delegated
program authority, a non-scientist, and an external non-affiliated
member with no other association with the institution.
No
research using animals may be conducted without prior approval
of the research protocol by the IACUC. This is required by the
U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) policy, is mandated by law and
includes all live vertebrate animals. It is also enforced by the
US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates all warm-blooded
animals used in biomedical research other than common rats, mice
and birds.
The
PHS policy is regulated by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
(OLAW). OLAW regulates any organization or institution that receives
PHS funding and covers all live vertebrate animals.
The
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal
Care - International (AAALAC-I), is also involved. AAALAC-I is
a peer review group that monitors and accredits member institutions
and provides advice and guidance on accomplishing the goals of
the IACUC. 
If money from PHS is being used, using live
vertebrate animals requires a Certificate of Assurance from
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/olaw/olaw.htm
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals
o HTML
o PDF
o Hard Copy: To order a
free hard copy of the PHS Policy send a request to OLAW@od.nih.gov
Note: PHS policy covers animals such as rodents
(rat, mice) and birds that are not covered by the USDA.
1996
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
o Hard Copy: To order a
free hard copy of the 1996 Guide send a request to OLAW@od.nih.gov
o Spanish Hard Copy: To
order, contact AAALAC at accredit@aaalac.org
Animal Welfare Act, Regulations & Standards
are enforced by USDA.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/publications.html
Report
of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia, 2000 (PDF) is a defacto
standard. OLAW uses these guidelines.
U.S.
Government Principles. were developed by the InterAgency
Research Animal Committee and are referenced (IRAC).
Public
Law 99-158, Section 495, "Animals in Research" is what spawned
the PHS policy.
PHS
Policy Tutorial
Sample
Documents for Implementation of PHS Policy
ARENA/OLAW Institutional Animal Care and
Use Committee Guidebook, 2nd Edition:
o FTP
Link to Guidebook (PDF) and Addendum
(PDF):
(fastest download)
o HTTP
Link to Guidebook (PDF) and Addendum
(PDF)
o HTTP Link to Guidebook
(MS Word) and Addendum (MS Word)
o HTTP
Link to Guidebook (MS Word) and Addendum
(MS Word)
o Hard Copy: To order a
free hard copy of the IACUC Guidebook send a request to OLAW@od.nih.gov
Institutional
Administrator's Manual for Laboratory Animal Care and Use
(MS Word)
Index
to OLAW Guidance
American
Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) - Professional
association for people in the Laboratory Animal field. Provides
professional training and technical certification.
American
College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) - Veterinary
specialty board certification.
American
Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Applied
Research Ethics National Association (ARENA) - Ethics for
use of human and lab animals in Medicine and Research
Association
for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International
(AAALAC) A Voluntary accreditation of facilities
using high standards. See guide
Canadian
Council on Animal Care
Foundation
for Biomedical Research - Educates about the importance of
using research animals Supports research.
Alternatives:
OLAW provided List of sites that focus on Refinement,
Reduction and Replacement (RRR)
Institute
for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR), National Research Council,
National Academy of Sciences
Laboratory
Animal Management Association (LAMA) - An Animal Facility
Management Professional Association
Public
Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) Educates
about Human and Animal Review Boards. Annual conference deals
with IACUC, Ethics, etc.
Scientist's
Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) - A Nonprofit, it promotes
best practices in research, agricultural and wildlife animal
welfare.
Laboratory
Animal Welfare Training Exchange (LAWTE) http://www.lawte.org/
Animal
Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/awicworkshops/workshopinfo.htm
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/olaw/links.htm
.This page at OLAW covers:
Alternatives
Databases
Government
Law, Regulations and Federal Policies
Organizations
Publications and Reports
Resources
Training (includes Videos)
