Who has the authority to determine the time frame for requesting a full committee review (FCR)?

The authority to determine the time frame for requesting a full committee review lies with the committee as a whole. This collective decision-making approach ensures that all members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) have equal input and that the standards and policies of the committee are uniformly applied to all research proposals. The collective decision-making process is crucial because it allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the factors influencing the timeline, such as workload, the complexity of the proposals under consideration, and scheduling availability.

Involving the entire committee in this decision helps maintain consistency in how reviews are managed and upholds the integrity of the review process. It also fosters transparency and accountability, as all members share in the responsibility for establishing the time frame, rather than placing that burden on a single individual or subgroup. This practice aligns with best management principles within IACUC operations, where collaborative input is essential for ethical oversight in animal research.