URBANA-CHAMPAIGN POLICY GOVERNING THE USE AND
CARE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING

The UIUC is registered with the Secretary of Agriculture as a research facility in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (Public Law 89-544) and in accordance with the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals maintains an animal welfare assurance with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, National Institutes of Health.

Research and teaching activities that involve live vertebrate animals and are conducted at or sponsored by the UIUC must:

  1. Be in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and implementing regulations; the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training; the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Research Council, most recent edition); and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Federation of Animal Science Societies, most recent edition).
  2. Adhere to University policy and procedures administered through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Division of Animal Resources, and the Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program.
  3. Adhere to policies and procedures adopted by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Oversight of the Use and Care of Animals Used in Research and Teaching

  1. Vice Chancellor for Research
    The Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) is the institutional official charged with the responsibility for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the use and care of animals in research and teaching. The VCR delegates on-going oversight of the campus animal care and use program to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Division of Animal Resources.
  2. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
    The campus IACUC is appointed by the Chancellor and advises the Vice Chancellor for Research in matters of animal care and use in research and teaching. The membership, responsibilities and authority of the IACUC meet the requirements of applicable federal laws and regulations. Pursuant to this policy, the IACUC is authorized to establish additional policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance to applicable regulations and professional standards pertaining to the use and care of animals in research and teaching. The committee also conducts periodic and on-going evaluations of the animal care and use program. The IACUC has the authority to suspend any activity involving animals that is not being conducted within provisions of applicable regulations or campus policy.

    [Click here to view policies and procedures adopted by the IACUC.]
  3. Division of Animal Resources (DAR) and Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program (AACUP)
    The DAR and AACUP are administrative units under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. These offices are responsible for assuring that the care of animals used in research and teaching is professionally sound and that high standards of humane treatment of animals are observed. The DAR and AACUP provide on-going oversight for the campus animal care and use program, provide supportive services such as training in the humane care and use of animals, and administer the institution's program of animal veterinary care. Ensuring adequate veterinary care of laboratory animals used in research and teaching, as well as, directly managing all campus laboratory animal facilities, are the responsibility of the Attending Veterinarian for Laboratory Animals, who is also the Director of the DAR. Ensuring adequate veterinary care for agricultural animals used in research and teaching is the responsibility of the Attending Veterinarian for Agricultural Animals, who head the AACUP. The attending veterinarians have authority to exercise duties required by university policies, professional standards, and federal agencies and have authority to make independent emergency decisions concerning the treatment of animals experiencing pain or suffereing. These animals must be provided appropriate veterinary care or be humanely euthanized, except in specific, well-justified circumstances approved by the IACUC, in order to allow research or teaching objectives to be met. Whenever possible, the investigator is consulted prior to initiating treatment or euthanasia.


Date Revised:  November 16, 2005
Date Issued:  January 25, 1988
Issued by:  Division of Animal Resources/Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program
Approved by:  Vice Chancellor for Research
Academic Policies:  Section II - 16