Responsibilities of the IACUC and Minority Views
Number: IACUC-POL-001
Responsible Office: Office of Research and Creative Scholarship (ORCS)
Applies to: Principal Investigators Conducting Animal Research
1. Purpose
The 91次元 (UM) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees all aspects of UM’s animal care and use programs for teaching and research, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and upholding the highest standards of scientific, humane, and ethical principles. Appointed by the Institutional Official under the authority of the UM President, the IACUC reviews all animal use protocols, inspects animal facilities and laboratories, and manages animal training and educational programs. Additionally, the IACUC oversees the Occupational Health and Safety Program for animal users. Comprised of a chair, a veterinarian, research scientists, non-scientists, and community representatives, the IACUC conducts semiannual inspections of all animal housing and research facilities and meets monthly to fulfill its responsibilities as a resource for faculty, investigators, technicians, students, staff, and administrators.
Federally Mandated IACUC Functions:
As required by the Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR) and Public Health Service (PHS) Policy, the IACUC shall:
- Review at least once every six months UM's program for humane care and use of animals, using the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for evaluation.
- Inspect, at least once every six months, all of the animal facilities, including animal study areas/satellite facilities, using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regulations and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for evaluation.
- Prepare reports of IACUC evaluations and submit the reports to the Institutional Official.
- Review and investigate legitimate concerns involving the care and use of animals at the research facility resulting from public complaints and from reports of non-compliance received from facility personnel or employees.
- Make recommendations to the Institutional Official regarding any aspect of the research facility's animal program, facilities or personnel training.
- Review and approve, require modifications in (to secure approval), or withhold approval of those components of proposed activities related to the care and use of animals.
- Review and approve, require modifications in (to secure approval), or withhold approval of proposed significant changes regarding the care and use of animals in ongoing activities.
- Suspend an activity involving animals when necessary; take corrective action and report to the funding agency, USDA, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).
2. Minority Views
Definition - A minority view is the written dissenting opinion of one or more IACUC members regarding a specific issue under consideration.
- Any IACUC member may submit a minority view in writing to the IACUC Coordinator.
- Minority views may be submitted whenever a member disagrees with the majority on a specific issue and wishes their dissent to be formally documented.
- Most often, dissent is noted in the minutes as a “no” vote.
- Members may also submit a written statement explaining their position.
- Written minority views become part of the official record.
Reporting Requirements
- Semiannual Reports: PHS Policy (IV.E.1.d; IV.F.4) and AWAR (§2.31(c)(3); §2.35(a)(3)) require that minority views be attached to the IACUC Semiannual Report to the IO.
- Annual Report: Minority views must also be included with the institution’s Annual Report to OLAW.
- Prompt Reports: If a minority view pertains to an IACUC action requiring prompt reporting (PHS Policy IV.G.3), the minority view must be included in the report to OLAW at that time.
3. References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. , Public Health Service (PHS) Policy: IV.E.1.d; IV.F.4; IV.G.3.
- National Research Council. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Edition. National Academies Press, 2011.
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations: (AWAR): §2.31(c)(3); §2.35(a)(3)
- AAALAC International. Guide for AAALAC Site Visitors and Rules of Accreditation.
- NIH OLAW Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
- Silverman, J., Suckow, M.A., & Murthy, S. (Eds.). (2000). The IACUC Handbook. CRC Press.
4. Review, Approval and Version History
|
Version |
Date |
Description of Changes |
Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1.0 |
February 14, 2006 |
Initial policy creation and adoption |
IACUC Committee |
|
2.0 |
November, 2024 |
Review |
Heivilin |
|
3.0 |
August 19, 2025 |
Review and rewrite |
Hicks |