The UAA Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is charged with oversight of all animal use at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The primary purpose of this committee is to ensure compliance with national policies protecting the welfare of laboratory and field research animals. These policies, regulations, and guidelines include, but are not limited to: the Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policies, the Health Research Extension Act, Acceptable Field Methods of Mammalogy, Guidelines for the Use of Wild Birds in Research, Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Field Research, Guidelines for the Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field Research, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching.
Responsible conduct of animal research requires knowledge of the requirements and empathy towards the animals we use. At the core of this program is the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The University's goal is to foster a supportive environment for high quality research, education, and service while ensuring that all use of live vertebrates is adequately justified and conducted by knowledgeable people using the most appropriate methodology. Adherence to the basic ethical principles outlined below is not only morally right, it is the only means to ensure quality results!
U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training
Minimizing animal pain, wherever possible, is important both ethically and legally. The National Academies of Sciences, Institute of Laboratory Animal Research, have developed a free online resource to help those who care for and use laboratory animals, farm animals, and pets to prevent, recognize, and alleviate pain in different types of animals, from non-human primates to fish. The document is entitled "Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009) and can be accessed at http://nas.edu/pain.
Questions or concerns about animal care and use at UAA may be addressed to the IACUC chair, Dr. Eric Murphy, at email or the IACUC administrator, Joanne Thordarson, at email. You are also welcome to contact any member of the IACUC committee (see membership link on left).
Updated: June 2009
