Should alternate members be included on IACUC rosters submitted to OLAW?

Including alternate members on IACUC rosters submitted to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) is important for several reasons. First, alternate members are essential to maintaining a fully functional committee, ensuring that there is always sufficient representation to meet quorum requirements during meetings. This is vital for the ethical oversight of animal research.

By presenting alternate members on the roster, OLAW is made aware of the full composition of the IACUC, which reflects the institution's commitment to compliance with federal regulations, including the Animal Welfare Act. This transparency helps foster trust in the institution's animal care and use program. Including alternates also demonstrates the IACUC's preparedness to handle situations where regular members might be unavailable, seamlessly ensuring continuous oversight and adherence to animal welfare standards.

In contrast, omitting alternates could misrepresent the committee's structure and leave room for potential operational issues if regular members are absent, leading to challenges in upholding ethical review processes. Therefore, the clear directive is to include both regular and alternate members in the IACUC rosters submitted to OLAW to ensure comprehensive representation and compliance.