University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The PHS Policy and the amendments to the Animal Welfare Act require the establishment of an Animal Care and Use Committee to ensure the care and use of animals are appropriate and humane.

The University IACUC was organized in 1985. It has the responsibility to evaluate:

  • Requests for use of vertebrate animals owned by the University or used by faculty, staff, or students in research, teaching, or testing.
  • Animal use by faculty from other institutions when the animals are owned by or housed in University of Nebraska facilities.

Composition of the IACUC
Responsiblilties of the IACUC
Authority of the IACUC
Inspections and Programmatic Evaluations

Composition of the IACUC
The members of the committee are appointed by the Institutional Official and include the following:

  • Four practicing scientists experienced in animal research
  • One member whose primary concerns are in a non-scientific area
  • One member not affiliated with the University and not a member of the immediate family of a person who is officially affiliated with the University
  • The university attending veterinarian
  • Appointments may include, but are not limited to, representatives of the School of Biological Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Wildlife, Department of Psychology, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, and the Department of Nutrition and Health Science. One representative each from the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office and the Office of the Dean of the Agricultural Research Division for the Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources will be included. Administrators that have a position on the committee are ex-officio members and vote as a committee member.

Each term will be for three years, appropriately staggered, in order to ensure continuity. The terms of new committee appointments shall begin on January 1. The Chairman of the Committee will be appointed for a two year term by the Institutional Official from the members of the committee, and will serve as a non-voting member except in instances of a tie vote.

Responsiblilties of the IACUC
The IACUC will serve as advisor to the University Administration in matters dealing with animal care and use. It will also oversee University compliance with all applicable federal, state, and institutional policies, laws and regulations.

  • Monitor the use of animals in teaching, research, and extension at UNL animal facilities.
  • Review protocols used in teaching and research. Criteria for approval shall be determined by the most current federal laws and policies. Recommend approval of protocols that meet required criteria.
  • Provide, every six months, an evaluation of facilities and programs within each University unit performing research and/or teaching involving the use of animals. A summary report of these evaluations will be submitted to the Institutional Official in accordance with the AWA and the PHS Animal Welfare Policy.
  • Prepare the annual USDA report for the University and for the signature of the Institutional Official.
  • In the event an animal is discovered to be in significant pain due to injury or other cause, and after a reasonable effort to notify the person responsible for the animal has failed, or those responsible fail to take immediate action, the Committee Chairman, attending veterinarian, or his/her designated representative has the authority to immediately direct alternative care, administer analgesics, or euthanize the animal as appropriate. Such cases will then be reviewed by the IACUC with a report to the appropriate Department Head/Chair and Institutional Official.
  • Review concerns involving the care and use of animals, and review reported violations of the AWA and, when warranted, investigate these concerns.
  • Assist in establishing training procedures for scientists, research technicians, animal technicians, and other personnel involved with animal use, care, and treatment.
  • Provide prompt review of Application to Use Animals Form and maintain communications with the investigator.
  • Be authorized to suspend an activity involving animals in accordance with the AWA.

The Committee will also maintain communication with other university committees that have related responsibilities.

The IACUC is responsible for maintaining a list of animal housing sites at this University. Maintenance of such a list is a legal requirement. Each approved animal housing facility is subject to oversight by the IACUC, USDA, NIH and OLAW.

Authority of the IACUC
 The IACUC has the authority to withdraw approval to use animals from any project that is not being conducted in accordance with the approved protocol or not in compliance with federal, state and local regulations. If an investigator continues with a project for which he/she has been notified that approval has been withdrawn, the investigator will be subject to withdrawal of all animal use privileges. The IACUC must report major deficiencies in projects through the Institutional Official to the funding agency within 15 days of the date they are identified. If non-compliance continues, a recommendation by the IACUC to terminate funding would be in order.

The authority of the Committee is delegated by the Institutional Official at UNL for the purpose of performing duties and functions set forth in the following documents:

Inspections and Programmatic Evaluations
The IACUC reviews the animal facilities and the animal care program for animal care using as its criteria the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and standards set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching. Reports are made to facility administrators who are, in turn, responsible for correcting deficiencies noted by the reviewers. If assistance from department heads, deans, or other administrative officials is required, facility administrators will ordinarily assume responsibility for seeking such assistance. The IACP Director, IACUC and attending veterinarian will offer whatever assistance they can. They will initiate informal actions to correct deficiencies whenever intervention is necessary to protect the interests of the institution. The Instiutional Official is responsible to initiate formal actions necessary to correct significant deficiencies when funding is required for correction of those deficiences working through the various departments, colleges and other administrative units.

United States Department of Agriculture

Unannounced inspections are conducted by the USDA. Generally, one annual visit per site is accomplished. Criteria used by the USDA are found in Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Inspections by Outside Persons
All UNL, USDA and other inspectors shall abide by the security measures required by the research facility to prevent the spread of disease, including the use of clean clothing or showering between facilities where appropriate. Inspection personnel will take special care not to interfere with research being performed, unless willful disregard of animal welfare is observed.