WCSU Faculty Handbook : Creative Activity, Professional Development Opportunities, and Research Protocols

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Review of Research Involving Vertebrate Animals

University policy requires prior approval of all research protocols involving animals. The policy applies to the use of live vertebrate animals in research, research training, or biological testing-whether funded or unfounded-conducted at this University or at another institution as a result of subcontracting or other type of collaboration.

The following plan has been adopted to assure maintenance of records which provide written assurance that all animal facilities, as well as research and training procedures, are beyond reproach and are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.

  • Procedures
    • FUNDED RESEARCH: Submit FORM IACUC-1 to the Director of Sponsored Research Administrative Services well before the anticipated
    • Non-funded Research: Includes both faculty projects and student research and instructional Major advisor and departments chairs must sign for student research. Review will be prompt, and a report will be provided for the principal investigator. In certain instances, modification may be requested by the full Committee, and any changes requested must be incorporated into the final proposal.
    • Cooperative Research: When a project requires collaboration with another institution, g., hospital, the Committee must have the approval of both institutions’ Animal Care and Use Committees.
    • Teaching: Protocols must be filed as

Please use the form IACUC-1opens PDF file

Individual faculty are responsible for the adherence to these regulations by staff and students under their supervision.

Declaration on the Use of Animals in Research*

Biomedical science faces increasingly hostile and outspoken campaigning aimed at the abolition of animal experimentation. Statements of support for the responsible use of animals in research have been made to the AAAS, the AMA, the BAAS, and the 41st World Medical Assembly and many other medical and scientific organizations. Whereas this attack on biomedical science not only threatens the progress of medicine but also challenges the principles of scientific inquiry, we make the following declaration.

Experiments on animals have made an important contribution to advances in medicine and surgery which have brought major improvements in the health of human beings and animals.

While alternatives to the use of animals are actively sought and eagerly adopted as soon as they are provide to be reliable, continued research involving animals is essential for the conquest of many unsolved medical problems such as cancer, AIDS, other infectious diseases, and genetic, developmental, neurological and psychiatric conditions.

The use of animals continues to be essential in basic research that furthers the understanding of biological processes and which provides the essential foundation for improvements in medical and veterinary knowledge, education and practice.

It is unethical to expose human beings to products and processes which have not been adequately tested for safety. Such testing in some cases requires the use of animals.

The scientific and medical community has a duty to explain the aims and methods of its research and to disseminate information about the benefits derived from animal experimentation.

All legislation and regulations governing the use of animals in scientific procedures must be strictly adhered to. Those involved must respect animal life, using animals only when essential and as humanely as possible.

Freedom of opinion and discussion on this subject must be safeguarded, but violent attacks on property, hostile campaigns against individual scientists and associated personnel and the use of distorted, inaccurate or misleading evidence should be publicly condemned.

Senate Approval: Apr. 17, 1991 (R-91-4-7)

Admin. Approval: May 15, 1991

Source: Sigma XI, The Scientific Research Society, Nov. 7, 1990.