The development and dissemination of knowledge necessary for the improvement of health and well being of humans as well as animals requires scientific experimentation and educational instruction using a wide variety of living animal species.

Mission

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a Presidential Committee charged with the institutional oversight of animals and animal care personnel involved in research, teaching, and clinical education. The purpose of IACUC is to certify the thrifty use of animals and to minimize discomfort or pain in animals, as guided by the scientific and educational relevance to human or animal health, advancement of knowledge, and societal benefits. When discharging its oversight mission, IACUC will be engaged in a constructive way to ensure that all institutional personnel are in compliance with approved protocols and applicable guidelines for the humane care and use of animals.

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of IACUC encompasses all of Washington State University where vertebrate animals are used including urban campuses, satellite facilities, and cooperative units.

C. PROTOCOLS

I) Review of Animal Care and Use Proposals

Protocol Review (New and Triennial Renewals)

Protocol to all IACUC members

Any single, formal member of IACUC may request a Full-Committee Review, which means this protocol will be discussed at the next convened IACUC meeting of the whole.

If no single member requests a Full-Committee Review, then the protocol receives a Designated-Member Review.

Designated-Member Review (subcommittee)

Protocols, categories B, C

By tradition, the Designated-Member Review subcommittee for such protocols consists of the IACUC chair and the OCV Director.

Protocols, category D

By tradition, the Designated-Member Review subcommittee for such protocols consists of three (3) IACUC members, with a designated primary reviewer.

Protocols, category E

By tradition, the Designated-Member Review subcommittee for such protocols consists of four (4) IACUC members, with a designated primary reviewer.

Amendments

Amendments- Major Amendments (see policies) and/or D, E

Treated the same as New Protocols (see above).

Amendments— Minor Amendments (see policies)

Reviewed by Designated-Member Review of 2-persons, which by tradition have been the IACUC chair and the OCV Director.

II) Responsibilities of IACUC members during Review

Full-Committee Review (FCR)

Each committee member carefully reviews the proposal in a timely manner to be satisfied that IACUC guidelines are followed and that explanations are sufficient to justify the proposed animal use, treatments, and animal numbers.

If questions or concerns arise, then the committee member should ask for clarification via the IACUC Program Coordinator.

Once the committee member is satisfied that the proposal meets all Federal and University guidelines for animal use, the member should convey that decision to the IACUC Program Coordinator, in a timely manner.

Designated-Member Review (DMR)

Each member of the Designated-Member Review acts on behalf of the IACUC to approve the protocol, request additional information from the PI to approve it, or refer it for FCR. [Note—designated reviewer(s) does(do) not have the power to withhold approval.]

Any questions or concerns about the proposal should preferably be directed to the Primary reviewer on this subcommittee.

The Primary reviewer is responsible for:

• communication between the subcommittee and the PI,

• soliciting a vote from each subcommittee member on approval of the proposal, and

• reporting the subcommittee’s decision at the next IACUC meeting.

Designated-Member committee approval has equal validity to full-committee review approval and does not require subsequent IACUC vote or action.

III. Protocol Review Flow Chart

Step 1--Protocol Submitted

• Received by Program Coordinator

• Program Coordinator reviews for completeness, then

• returns a note of reception to PI ,

• sends a copy to Environmental Health & Safety, and

• sends a copy to Director of OCV.

Step 2—Technical and Pre-Review

1) Environmental Health & Safety—review

• Reviewed for health and safety issues

• Interacts with PI to address questions about Protocol

• Report findings back to IACUC Program Coordinator

2) Director of OCV—review

• Attending veterinarian review

• Reviewed for adherence to Federal and AAALAC policies

• Interacts with PI to address questions about Protocol

• Returns revised (if needed) Protocol to IACUC Program Coordinator

Step 3—IACUC Review

• Program Coordinator

a) Sends Protocol out to all members of IACUC

b) PI notified of pre-review deficiencies

• Each IACUC member reviews

• Designated-Member review

Step 4—Regular IACUC meeting

• If Protocol flagged for FCR, then discussed and voted.

• Report by Primary reviewer on Designated-Member review.

Step 5—Program Coordinator

1) Reports results of IACUC decision to PI

2) Notes deficiencies, if any, that PI must address before protocol

takes effect.

2. Glossary

AAALAC: Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care

ASAF: Animal Subjects Approval Form.

Designated-member review: (Subcommittee Review). If a Full Committee Review is not requested, then at least one (1) member of IACUC can be designated by the chair of IACUC to undertake review of the protocol. The Designated-Member Review committee has the authority to approve, modify, or refer the protocol back for FCR, but it cannot reject the protocol.

Full Committee Review (FCR): Review of a protocol or animal related issue at a regularly convened meeting of IACUC (quorum present). Approval requires only simple majority of those members present.

IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Pain/Use Categories:

B —observation only, including breeding and stock holding;

C —an intervention with no or only momentary or slight pain/distress;

D —more than momentary or slight pain/distress but is relieved via anesthesia, analgesics, or tranquilizers;

E —more that momentary or slight pain/distress not relieved.

Subcommittee Review . See Designated-member review .

Office of Research Assurances, P.O. Box 643005, Albrook rm 205, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-3005
Phone: 509-335-7183, Fax: 509-335-6410 drclark@wsu.edu

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

IACUC

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. IACUC

B. MISSION STATEMENT