Institutional Animal Care Program (IACP)
The UNL vice chancellor for research and economic development has delegated responsibility for the animal care program to the institutional official (IO), currently the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research. The director of the Institutional Animal Care Program (IACP) is responsible for overseeing the animal care program and working with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACP director’s oversight authority is implemented through open access to all the animal facilities to IACP personnel, on an as-needed basis.Facility problems or animal care deficiencies are addressed by the IACP director at the facilities level, between the IACP personnel and the animal care personnel if possible. The IACP director reports on deficiencies of facilities and animal care to deans/department chairs and/or the IO.
The attending veterinarian (AV) is a member of the IACUC and responsible for the health care of the animals. Veterinary care for animals at the outstate facilities is arranged for using private practitioners. The AV reports to the IACP director and is responsible for overseeing animal health at all campus facilities, by visiting the facilities on a continuous basis, observing and advising facilities managers. The AV person is authorized to act on behalf of the IACP director in his/her absence and can overrule a facility manager or unit administrator regarding animal welfare matters if such were ever needed. The AV participates in training programs, conducts diagnostic procedures as appropriate and directs the administration of veterinary care to animals.
The IACP director, attending veterinarian or IACUC chair all have the authority to stop unacceptable activities in the use of animals “on-the-spot” or take other measures as necessary for the benefit of the animals. Issues of health care may be handled by the IACUC in coordination with the IO while keeping the unit administrator informed.
The director works with the IACUC as appropriate. The IACP staff may communicate with animal caretakers, facility managers, unit administrators or deans/directors as needed and also interact collectively with the administrators of units having animal facilities.
The training and compliance coordinator provides general regulations training, which is required for any employee having direct contact with animals, and keeps on file the Training Documentation Form (TDF) which must be submitted before an individual engages in animal contact activities. The training and compliance coordinator also assists faculty and staff with the submission of applications to use animals using the NUgrant IACUC Projects module, organizes and assists with animal facilities inspections and reports, and serves as a voting IACUC member.
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