Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
- Research at AUC
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
The Institutional Animal Care and& Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for ensuring the highest animal welfare standards and that the conduct of scientific research is ethical, accurate, and valid through the supervision, coordination, training, guidance, and review of every project proposed to include the use of vertebrate animals at the American University in Cairo. This includes live animals (at the time of purchase and arrival at AUC) for teaching and laboratory animal research, whether or not they are housed in the AUC Vivarium or a secured room within one of the schools.
Well-established procedures, often more stringent than those for monitoring human subjects research, are used for reviewing and monitoring animal research, teaching, and testing projects conducted under university oversight.
The IACUC, along with veterinary staff specializing in laboratory animal medicine, carefully review the goals, objectives, and scientific benefits of all proposed projects. The key objectives of the IACUC’s mandate are to ensure that:
- The project is justified in that it will benefit human or animal well-being
- As a US entity, that the proposed research complies with Federal applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines. This is key to receipt of Federal funding and for study validity;
- That the research conducted is humane adhering to guidelines with all animals involved and that they are provided with the best possible treatment and professional veterinary care
- That all involved personnel [IACUC members, investigators and students] have received the proper training
- Management and execution of care and protocols adhere to proper practices and procedures to reduce as much pain and/or distress to the animals as possible.
The IACUC is responsible for approving, requiring modification of, or prohibiting the use of vertebrate animals in research, teaching, or testing activities. In addition to reviewing and approving animal use applications and protocol modifications, the IACUC also approves changes to the University’s policies governing animal care and use, and conducts announced and unannounced inspections of animal care and use locations.
The IACUC Chair has the authority to terminate a study if it does not adhere to the approved protocol or if its conduct has been demonstrated to induce excessive distress and pain.
Ahmed Abdellatif
Associate Professor of Biomedical and Neurosciences, Department of Biology Department, AUC (voting member)
Anwar Abd ElNaser
Associate Professor of Global Health and Human Ecology, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, AUC (voting member)
Mai Barakat
Veterinarian, Senior Lab Technologist, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, AUC (voting member)
Seif Eldawlatly
Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, AUC (voting member)
Joy-Marie Lawrence
Director of the Board of Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, South Africa (voting member)
Mohamed Salama
Professor of Global Health and Human Ecology, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, AUC (voting committee chair)
In its advisory role, the IACUC ensures that AUC’s Animal Care & Use Program operates in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines that govern the humane, responsible, and judicious use of vertebrate animals. A brief summary of the federal rules and regulations governing the use of vertebrate animals in research, teaching, or testing activities is outlined below:
- Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW):
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the regulating body for all activities funded by the federal government, including the NIH and NSF. OLAW's primary standards are the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals(link is external) (PHS Policy), and the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals(link is external) (Guide).
- United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service :
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, oversees activities involving the use of vertebrate animals at government-registered research institutions. The USDA receives its authority through federal law (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7 and 9). Veterinary Medical Officers enforcing the 7 and 9 CFRs inspect research organizations at least annually.
- For US and international funding, specific funding sources may impose further restrictions. Organizations and investigators receiving funding are responsible for following any other requirements for the humane care and treatment of any vertebrate animal used in field or laboratory research and educational training.
For further information on the review process please visit NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (https://olaw.nih.gov/resources/tutorial/iacuc.htm).
Training
Visit the CITI Program website (https://about.citiprogram.org/current-subscriptions/) and click on the "Register" button located in the blue log in box to the right of the homepage. Make sure you use your “aucegypt.edu” email, to ensure it takes you to your institution. If you encounter any difficulties in the registration process, refer to the "First time registration on the new website" section and follow step-by-step instructions on how to register for CITI training.
When you register, you will be asked to identify your learner group which determines the training modules you will have to complete. This is based on the nature of your research activity. The options are:
- IACUC members
- Faculty/staff researcher
- Student researcher
- Animal technicians and/or staff (Research assistants, laboratory technologists)
You must earn a cumulative score of 80% after completing all of the modules for your particular learner group. Please note, the online training can take up to several hours to complete. You are able to save your work, exit, and return to the training at a different time.
The Following Modules are required by ALL participants (a-d):
Working With Guinea Pigs in Research Settings: Stage 1 - Lab Animal Research
Working with Mice in Research Settings: Stage 1 - Lab Animal Research
Working with Rats in Research Settings: Stage 1 - Lab Animal Research
Working with the IACUC: Stage 1 - Basic Course
Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats: Stage 1 - Lab Animal Research
Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM): Stage 1 - Lab Animal Research
IACUC Members (a) MUST also complete the following
Essentials for IACUC Members: Stage 1 - Basic Course
IACUC Chair: Stage 1 – Basic
IACUC Community Member: Stage 1 - Lab Animal Research
You should receive and submit for each required module a certificate like the one below.
Fill out the AUC IACUC Protocol: Application for Approval of the Use of Vertebrate Animals form.
All correspondences with the IACUC or its membership MUST be in writing.
There are three possible outcomes to the review of a proposal:
Approval: A protocol that has been approved by the IACUC requires no further action by the investigator before the research may commence.
Conditional Approval/Request for Modifications: The IACUC may request revisions to a proposal. The investigator will receive written details describing what additional information is required and the revised protocol will be reviewed an additional time with the possibility of approval if all modifications have been addressed, or sent back until all additional modifications have been addressed.
Negative Decision: A protocol that has been disapproved by the IACUC may not be initiated. The investigator will receive written details describing the reasons for denial of approval, and will be given an opportunity to make alterations to their proposed study/methodologies in an effort to have their submission approved. An investigator may also challenge the findings of the committee, however unless the committee is satisfied with the proposal, the research may not be conducted.
Per federal regulations, animal research protocols may be approved for a maximum of three years.
The investigator is required to wait for approval from the IACUC prior to initiation of the research study. Using animals prior to approval of your protocol can lead to suspension of your research project and future animal usage.
If a protocol is approved, the Investigator/course instructor will receive an approval letter and/or email from the chair of the IACUC. The chair of the IACUC will also request their signature and supply them with a copy of the approved and signed protocol form.
Information on the facility, capabilities and policies of the Vivarium can be checked here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Information |
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For any queries, email [email protected] |