Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Creighton University is guided by federal regulations and ethical principles intended to ensure the humane care and use of animals in research. All research involving vertebrate animals that is conducted or authorized under the jurisdiction of Creighton University is subject to review by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This review must be conducted before a project can be started.
The IACUC was established pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy and reports to the Institutional Official. The Institutional Official appoints the members of the IACUC, who serve until they resign or are removed.
The IACUC consists of at least five members of varying professional and personal backgrounds, including at least one veterinarian, one non-scientist, one practicing scientist, and one person who is not affiliated with Creighton University in any way other than as a member of the IACUC (for example, a community member). Creighton’s IACUC also includes one biostatistician.
IACUC responsibilities include the following:
- Ensuring appropriate transportation, care, and use of all laboratory animals in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, PHS Policy, and other applicable federal laws, guidelines, and policies
- Determining whether the number and species of animals selected for research are appropriate for use in the proposed procedures
- Determining whether the research protocol includes appropriate procedures for minimizing discomfort, distress, and pain in laboratory animals
- Determining whether proposed living conditions are appropriate for the species involved in the study
- Evaluating the importance of knowledge to be gained by the research
