Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Overview of the Function and Mandate of the IACUC

The Animal Welfare Act1 (AWA) and Public Health Service (PHS) Policies2 require all Institutions using laboratory animals for research or education to have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC mandate is to oversee and evaluate all aspects of the Institutional program for animal care as use. This includes all research and educational activities involving animals as well the veterinary care program.

According to federal regulations, the IACUC is required to:

  • Review every six months the institution's program for animal care and use on the basis of guidelines contained in the AWA Regulations3 and the ILAR "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals."4
  • Inspect every six months the institution's animal facilities and laboratories where animals are used.
  • Submit to the Institutional Official reports of inspections and evaluation of the program for animal care and use.
  • Investigate concerns involving the care and use of animals prompted by public complaints or by internal reports received from personnel at the institution.
  • Make recommendations to the Institutional Official regarding any aspect of the institutional animal care and use program.
  • Review and approve, require modification (to secure approval), or withhold approval of proposed significant changes regarding the care and use of animals in ongoing activities.
  • Suspend an activity involving animals if it does not comply with the AWA regulations, PHS policy, or the Institution Animal Welfare Assurance approved by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) of the NIH.

Reporting Concerns Involving the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Members of the general public or personnel concerned about the care and use of laboratory animals at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine are encouraged to report their concern to the IACUC, the Center for Comparative medicine and surgery (CCMS) or the Dean's office. Concerns may be reported confidentially and without fear of any reprisal by calling the IACUC Chair (Dr. Giorgio Martinelli, (212) 241-8955), the CCMS Director (Dr. Reginald Miller, (212) 241-3008), the Dean for Research (Dr. Dennis Charney, (212) 241 5674), or the Compliance Office at (800) 853-9212. These offices will promptly investigate and address any concern.

Composition of the IACUC

The composition of the IACUC and the appointment process for committee members is mandated by federal policies. According to PHS policies, IACUC members must be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institution, or by an Institutional Official (IO) designated by the CEO. The IO must have administrative and fiscal authority to meet all the requirements of the AWAR and PHS policies. The Committee must consist of no fewer than five members. The Committee must include: a) one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine who has direct or delegated responsibilities for activities involving animals at the research facility, b) one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals, c) one person not affiliated with the Institution5, d) one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area, e.g. an ethicist. In general, most institutions including The Mount Sinai School of Medicine exceed the above requirements.

Footnotes

  1. Animal Welfare Act. Public Law 89-544 found in Title 7 of the US Code, §§ 2131 et.seq. The law is, in part, intended to ensure that animals used in research receive humane care and treatment. The text of the law can be accessed at www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/awa.htm.
  2. Public Health Service. The US Public Health Service is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and comprises agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control , and the Food and Drug Administration. The text of the regulations can be accessed at grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm.
  3. Animal Welfare Act Regulations. These are detailed regulations for the implementation of the AWA and are found in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1, Subchapter A Parts 1, 2, 3. The text of the regulations can be accessed at www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/awa.htm.
  4. "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" is published by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) of the National Research Council. The text of the Guide can be accessed at www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats/chaps.html.
  5. According to the AWA Regulations (§ 2.31, b, 3ii), the non-affiliated member of the Committee is intended to represent "general community interests in the proper care and treatment of the animals."
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