Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The mission of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at York College of Pennsylvania is to oversee the humane care of animals used for research and educational purposes. We are committed to ensuring that York College faculty and students have considered all relevant ethical and animal care issues when designing and conducting their research and course materials. Adhering to ethics for humane treatment of animals is not only important, it is also among the values that underlie excellent research and teaching. We guide faculty and students to consider the principles of reduction in the overall number of animals required to perform high-quality research, replacement of animals with alternative models when possible, and refinement of studies to minimize distress and maximize welfare when conducting research using animals.
Our responsibilities:
Our committee provides oversight of all animal care and use on campus. The IACUC is composed of a chair, a veterinarian, research scientists, a non-scientist, and a community representative. We complete the following activities:
- Review ALL proposed activities and modifications that involve the use of vertebrate animals (we do not house USDA animals on campus)
- Inspect all laboratories and facilities that house animals twice per year
- Assure that all personnel are adequately trained to perform work with animals
- Address concerns about animal care and use on campus
- Serve as a resource to faculty, students, staff, and administrators and provide guidance for conducting all animal use procedures with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles
- Protect the institution from inadvertent use of animals not in compliance with federal and local regulations as recommended by the National Research Council of the National Academies in the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" (8th Edition, the National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2011).