About the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is committed to the humane care and use of animals in teaching, research, and display. This commitment is reflected in the establishment of a campus Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is composed of a panel of experts on animal health and welfare, life and behavioral sciences, and laboratory safety and federal regulations, as well as a representative from the community at large. The CSUF IACUC also includes an accredited, state-licensed Veterinarian and a Certified Laboratory Animal Technologist/Registered Veterinarian Technician, who have, as their principal concern, the health and welfare of animals.
The IACUC reviews all teaching and research projects that involve vertebrate animals to ensure that:
- use of animals is justified;
- the number of animals used is appropriate;
- all procedures are done in a humane fashion, and;
- all individuals involved are properly trained.
IACUC reviews are guided in part by the Federal Animal Welfare Act, which is administered by the USDA, and by the NIH, which regulates animal care and use at institutions that receive federal funding. Other federal, state, and local regulations may affect aspects of animal care and use, e.g., housing or the need for additional permits to collect or house certain species. Knowledge and compliance of regulations is essential because the penalties for non-compliance can be severe and far-reaching. Both USDA and NIH have the power to suspend or discontinue all or part of the animal care and use activities on campus. Moreover, federal funding agencies may withdraw funding for a specific project or all projects if compliance is not maintained.
In addition to reviewing protocols, the CSUF IACUC conducts semi-annual reviews of institutional programs for the humane care and use of animals, as well as semi-annual inspections of all facilities where animals are used or held for more than 12 hours. Their findings are reported to CSUF's Institutional Official and, annually, to NIH and to the USDA, which also conducts semi-annual, unannounced inspections. CSUF adheres to the regulations published by the USDA, as well as to the regulations and guidelines set forth by NIH in the
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
and in other guidelines and policy statements, including the CSUF IACUC Handbook (see IACUC Guidelines and Policy Statement).
As part of these legal obligations and its commitment to animal welfare, CSUF has procedures in place for reporting concerns regarding animal care and use on campus. Individuals with concerns may also approach the IACUC Chair, Campus Veterinarian, Animal Care Facility Specialist, or the Principal Investigator of a project with their concerns.
All faculty, staff and students using animals are expected to be aware of IACUC policies, as spelled out in the CSUF IACUC Handbook, and must comply with the requirements of the specific protocols associated with their activities.
