What is one of the primary responsibilities of the IACUC?

One of the primary responsibilities of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is to review and approve animal activities, including both new research proposals and significant changes to ongoing studies. This responsibility is critical to ensure that all animal research complies with ethical standards and regulatory requirements. The IACUC's review process evaluates the proposed methods for animal care and use to determine whether they minimize pain and distress, align with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), and ensure that the research is justified in terms of its scientific merit. This oversight helps protect the welfare of the animals used in research and ensures that their use is aligned with ethical and legal standards.

While evaluating the animal care and use program, scheduling training sessions, and monitoring funding are important tasks related to the broader function of an IACUC, the core responsibility of direct oversight in approving and reviewing animal research proposals is essential for maintaining ethical research practices.