According to the PHS Policy, can the non-affiliated member and the nonscientific member of the IACUC be the same person?

The correct answer indicates that while the non-affiliated member and the nonscientific member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) can indeed be the same person, the committee's composition still must adhere to the requirement of having a minimum of five members. This stipulation ensures that the committee has a diverse representation and a breadth of perspectives for effective oversight of animal research and compliance with PHS Policy.

In terms of context, PHS Policy mandates that an IACUC must have specific categories of members to function properly. The inclusion of both a non-affiliated member and nonscientific member is crucial for maintaining ethical standards and regulatory compliance. However, having these roles filled by the same individual does not diminish the requirement for the committee to be sufficiently populated; the emphasis remains on maintaining a minimum number of committee members to ensure a balanced review process.

Hence, this response highlights the balance between functional flexibility in committee membership and the foundational requirement for a well-rounded oversight committee that upholds the principles of ethical research.