Animal
Research Program Overview
Statement on Animal Care and Use
The use of animal for
research purposes is a privilege only granted to qualified
scientists. Investigators are required to consider alternatives to
animal use and to utilize those alternatives when they can result in
sound scientific conclusion. Researchers are entrusted with the
highest level ethical standards. All research activities that
involve the use of animal subjects, are conducted in accordance with
federal, state, VA and VALBHS regulations and guidelines which
govern the care and use of animal in the research laboratory.
An IACUC is an
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. IACUC are required
by Federal law to oversee the humane care and treatment of
laboratory animals.
Ethical,
regulatory, and policy mandates (including the
Animal Welfare Regulations;
PHS Policy;
U.S. Government Principles for Utilization and Care of Vertebrate
Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training; and the
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.)
require that approval by a duly appointed Institutional Animal Care
and Use Committee (IACUC) be granted before any research project
using vertebrate animal subjects can be initiated.
For more information, see About the
IACUC. At the VA the IACUC is also known as the
Subcommittee on Animal Studies (SAS). |
