Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
NAU has established an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) qualified through experience and expertise of its members to oversee the institution's animal program, facilities, and procedures. The IACUC membership meets the compositional requirements set forth in the PHS Policy. Current IACUC membership includes: A Chair, A Veterinarian with experianece in laboratory animal science, 2 public (community) members, non-scientists, scientists, field biologists and a student representative. Meetings of the IACUC are scheduled monthly throughout the year as required to conduct business. Additional meetings will be scheduled if necessary to fulfill the committee's responsibilities.
The Northern Arizona University 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 nor too many as needed by a study), (b) research using animals does
not unnecessarily duplicate previous research, (c) animal pain is
minimized, and that animal users have contingency plans for unexpected animal
injuries, (d) animal holding facilities recieve detailed twice yearly inspections, 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)
- NAU IACUC Policy Manual
- NAU Comparitive Medicine Rules
- The Animal Welfare Act
- The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Additional web sites, laws and treaties (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 use of Animals in Research
Questions or comments relating to the NAU IACUC please contact:
Comparative Medicine (Research Annex)
Box 5640
928-523-1330
