Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The Northern Arizona University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) helps NAU and NAU staff comply with federal regulations regarding use of animals in research or education. These regulations include the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Policy Manual and public statements, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and OSHA and EPA regulations.

The IACUC is concerned with portions of these laws that (a) ensure that the number of animals used is reasonable (neither too few to yield useful results nor so many that needless suffering occurs), (b) research using animals does not unnecessarily duplicate previous research, (c) animal pain and suffering is minimized, and that animal users have contingency plans for unexpected animal injuries, (d) animal holding facilities are inspected twice a year, and (e) risk to humans from using animals is minimized.

To meet these goals, the IACUC requires NAU personnel using animals to meet two obligations, namely (1) obtaining IACUC approval for your animal-use protocol, and (2) certifying that all animal users have undergone training to educate themselves about the legal and health issues involved in animal use. Please note that “animal use” includes display of animals in classes, dissection of animals in laboratory classes, research in NAU labs, research in off-campus labs by NAU personnel, and field research on animals.

Animal-Use Protocol
Northern Arizona University faculty must submit an Animal-Use Protocol for IACUC approval before animals can be used in teaching or research. The IACUC must ensure that NAU complies with relevant laws and regulations. Your failure to comply could result in loss of federal funding for all animal-related research (not just your projects, but also those of all your colleagues) and personal liability for you. The IACUC’s role is to make sure that your use of animals does not have this unfortunate result. We can also help you procure animals or the substances you need for animal immobilization.

• To submit an animal use protocol, you can use the protocol form
• You are also required to submit a brief protocol annual review
• To modify a protocol that his already been approved, submit a protocol modification request
• After a three year period protocols expire and a final protocol annual review is required
• All vertebrate animal tissue coming to the university must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC prior to its arrival using the tissue transfer form

Certifications for animal users
All new animal users (not just the Principal Investigator) must:

• Fill out this Health Questionnaire
• Read this IACUC Certification Module
• Take this IACUC Training and Certification Test

Additional reading (optional)

• USDA Annual reports
• NAU IACUC Policy Manual
• The Animal Welfare Act
• The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Web sites, laws, treaties and information (optional)

• US Fish and Wildlife service 
• The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)
• The Migratory Bird Act
• The Endangered Species Act
• The AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia
• Statement on Animals in Research

Web pages of interest

Foundation for Biomedical research

The Animal Research Minute

Jen's story and other stories

Understanding Animal Research

Questions or comments relating to the NAU IACUC please contact:
Comparative Medicine (Research Annex)
Box 5640
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
phone (928) 523-1330
fax (928) 523-7500
Email Chrystal Redding