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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: IACUC must review

Lab Animal volume 36, pages 14–15 (2007)Cite this article

The mandate to consider alternatives is enshrined in the Animal Welfare Act1. The IACUC is also federally mandated to “[r]eview, and if warranted, investigate concerns involving the care and use of animals at the research facility resulting from public complaints received...2.” Therefore, the USDA has no reason to become involved in what is essentially an IACUC function, unless the Committee fails to review the procedure at all.

Although reviewing protocols apart from the scheduled process is likely to be disruptive to research, the IACUC certainly has the authority to make this demand. According to the AWARs, “[t]he IACUC shall conduct continuing reviews of activities covered by this subchapter at appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC, but not less than annually3.” Additionally, Martex is not required or obligated to conduct the research even though the IACUC has previously approved it4.

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References

  1. 7 USC 2143, Sec. 1752 (a) Section 13.

  2. 9 CFR Subchapter A – Animal Welfare, §2.31(c)(4).

  3. 9 CFR Subchapter A – Animal Welfare, §2.31(d)(5).

  4. ARENA/OLAW. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidebook, 2nd Edn. 12 (Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, Bethesda, MD, 2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bell is Attending Veterinarian, Poosala is Animal Program Director, and Smith is IACUC Coordinator, National Institute on Aging, Gerontology Research Center, Baltimore, MD,

    Jeffrey B. Bell,  Suresh Poosala &  Rebekah Smith

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  1. Jeffrey B. Bell
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  2. Suresh Poosala
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  3. Rebekah Smith
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Bell, J., Poosala, S. & Smith, R. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: IACUC must review. Lab Anim 36, 14–15 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0507-14b

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0507-14b

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