ÌÇÐÄVlog

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Animal Care and Use Program: Organizational Structure

SUBJECT: The ÌÇÐÄVlog Animal Care and Use Program: Organizational Structure	Effective Date: 12/13/2024	Policy Number: 10.4.1a
Ìý	Supersedes: 12/17/2021 1/25/2019 2/26/2016	Page 1 of 4
Ìý	Responsible Authorities: Vice President, Research

1. Background

   ÌÇÐÄVlog (ÌÇÐÄVlog) is committed to the humane care and use of animals in research, training, and exhibition activities. The University has adopted institution-wide animal care standards that are based on the Animal Welfare Act regulations and Public Health Service (PHS) Policy, and has a formal document on file (an "Animal Welfare Assurance") with the Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) to document its commitment to these standards. The overarching goal of these efforts is to ensure that all activities involving animals are conducted in a humane and ethical manner, that housing and care of animals is appropriate for the species and to ensure that faculty, staff, and students working with animals are safe and protected.

2. Purpose

   This document outlines the administrative structure of the ÌÇÐÄVlog animal care and use program. These administrative offices and leaders interact with and provide resources to the many faculty, staff, and students who work with animals in their research, training, and exhibition activities. However, the program goes beyond administrative structures and procedures to comply with federal regulations. The humane care and use of animals is a shared mission and every person at ÌÇÐÄVlog (staff, faculty, or student) is expected to understand, implement, and maintain best practices for promoting and protecting animal welfare.

3. Policy

   The ÌÇÐÄVlog Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP) is a University-wide program with multiple components, which is depicted in detail in Appendix 1, Organizational Chart.

   Required components of the Animal Care and Use Program:

   1. The Institutional Official. Federal regulations require that institutions appoint an Institutional Official (IO) who has ultimate authority and accountability for the animal care and use program, including allocating fiscal and non-fiscal resources to the program and ensuring compliance with the regulations. At ÌÇÐÄVlog, the President has delegated that role to the Vice-President for Research. Although the overall direction of the ACUP is a shared responsibility among the IO, Attending Veterinarian (AV), and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the IO is the person who is ultimately held responsible by federal authorities. For that reason, the IO has the authority to withhold approval for any animal activity, even if it has been approved by the IACUC; however, the IO may not approve any activity where the IACUC has withheld approval.
   2. The Attending Veterinarian (AV). According to the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals, an institution must provide its AV with sufficient authority, including access to all animals and resources to manage the program of veterinary care. The AV is responsible for the health and well-being of all animals used in research, training, and exhibition at ÌÇÐÄVlog. This includes oversight of the following: a) animal procurement and transportation; b) preventative medicine (including quarantine, biosecurity, and surveillance); c) treatment of clinical disease, disability, or related health issues; d) assessment and care of protocol-associated disease, disability, and related outcomes; e) surgery and perioperative care; f) assessment of pain and distress; g) anesthesia and analgesia; and h) euthanasia. The AV is an ex officio voting member of the IACUC and is involved in the design, planning and review of the animal care and use protocol. The AV also advises on other aspects of animal care and use such as husbandry, housing of animals, and specialized training.
   3. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC is a faculty-led committee composed of scientists, non-scientists, veterinary professionals, and members of the community [community members have no affiliation with ÌÇÐÄVlog]. The IACUC oversees and evaluates the animal care and use program by: a) reviewing all animal research, training, and exhibition projects, and making decisions to approve, withhold approval, require modifications, or suspend projects as appropriate; b) developing, reviewing and assessing all components of the animal program as well as inspecting and evaluating all animal facilities (including satellite facilities), laboratory space and study areas semi-annually and reporting these findings to the IO; c) reviewing and investigating legitimate concerns involving the care and use of animals at the institution and d) making recommendations to the IO regarding any aspect of the animal program, facilities or personnel training.

   Additional Administrative Components of the Animal Care and Use Program:

   The ÌÇÐÄVlog ACUP (or "Program") includes all "activities conducted by and at an institution that have a direct impact on the well-being of animals, including animal and veterinary care, policies and procedures, personnel and program management and oversight, occupational health and safety, IACUC functions, and animal facility design and management." The extensive volume of paperwork and processes required by Federal regulations cannot be handled solely by the IO, AV, and IACUC. To administer a diverse Animal Care and Use Program that spans four campuses, ÌÇÐÄVlog relies on the support and collaboration of the following administrative units:

   1. Research Integrity (RI). RI, located in the Division of Research, is the primary administrative support office for all research compliance programs at ÌÇÐÄVlog, including the animal care and use program. RI supports the IO, IACUC, faculty and students through a variety of functions including: a) advising faculty and students on the protocol submission process; b) processing all animal protocols and related actions; c) coordinating and scheduling all meetings and facility inspections; d) issuing all correspondence from the IACUC and IO to faculty and students; e) interacting with federal agencies (e.g., OLAW and UDSA) to discuss and report any compliance issues; f) investigating animal welfare and non-compliance cases on behalf of the IACUC; g) performing post-approval monitoring; and h) performing other related actions. RI also coordinates all general training programs related to animal care and use, and works closely with the AV and CM staff who provide specialized training directed by the IACUC. RI facilitates communications between all components of the animal care and use program including the IO, AV, IACUC, and the ÌÇÐÄVlog community.
   2. Comparative Medicine (CM). ÌÇÐÄVlog's Office of Comparative Medicine, also located in the Division of Research, supports the Animal Care and Use Program by routinely observing animals for signs of pain or distress, assisting in veterinary medical care, providing husbandry to animals (feeding, breeding, enrichment programs, etc.), and maintaining housing and facilities for all vertebrate animals on ÌÇÐÄVlog campuses. At the direction of the IACUC, CM also provides "protocol-specific" training to personnel working with animals (see IACUC policy "10.4.22, Personnel Training in the Care and Use of Animals").
   3. Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). EH&S is the primary contact at ÌÇÐÄVlog for matters of health, safety and the environment. EH&S supports the ÌÇÐÄVlog ACUP by managing the occupational health and safety program known as the Medical Monitoring Program for Animals Users (MMPAU). Through the MMPAU, faculty and students working with animals receive initial assessment and risk evaluation, referral to appropriate vaccinations and medical care, and ongoing monitoring of their health status. EH&S also manages efforts to minimize biological, chemical and radioactive hazards associated with animal activities.
   4. Facilities Management. Facilities Management oversees services such as construction, building maintenance, and physical plant operations. Facilities Management coordinates with the IO, AV, and IACUC to ensure any facility and physical plant issues (utilities, construction, noise control, etc.) do not adversely affect the well-being of animals at ÌÇÐÄVlog. Both EH&S and Facilities Management report to ÌÇÐÄVlog's Vice-President for Administrative Affairs.

   Collectively, ÌÇÐÄVlog's IO, AV, IACUC in conjunction with the administrative offices noted above, work together to promote animal welfare at ÌÇÐÄVlog.

4. Procedures

   Specific procedures are outlined in policies or guidelines issued by the Vice-President for Research, Vice-President for Administrative Affairs, IACUC, Comparative Medicine, or other applicable units.

5. Policy Renewal Date

   12/13/2027

6. References
   1. U.S. Code, Title 7, Chapter 54.
   2. U.S. Code, Title 9, Subchapter A, Parts 1, 2, 3
   3. Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Guide for the Care and Use of Animals: Eight Edition ("The Guide")

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POLICY APPROVAL

Initiating Authority

Gregg B. Fields, Ph.D., Vice President for Research

Executed signature pages are available in the Initiating Authority Office

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