Animal Care and Use

Policy Summary

The university requires the highest standards of humane care and use of laboratory animals in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, accreditation standards, policies, and procedures. Vertebrate animals may be used in research, testing, or teaching only with the prior approval of the GW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). 

Related Regulations

• Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et. seq.)
• Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) 
• National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) 
• National Research Council Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals
• Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Act Regulations (9 C.F.R. Chapter 1, Subchapter A)

Who is Governed by this Policy 

• Faculty
• Staff
• Students

Policy

The care and use, or intended use, of animals in research, testing, or teaching must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, accreditation standards, policies, and procedures.  

The Associate Vice Provost for Research Integrity and Compliance serves as the Institutional Official for GW’s animal care and use program and oversees the activities of the IACUC and the Office of Animal Research (OAR) in accordance with applicable requirements. Investigators must obtain IACUC approval prior to using vertebrate animals in research, testing, or teaching and must adhere to the approved protocol in carrying out their activities. Investigators must comply with all other applicable IACUC, OAR, and university requirements, including, for example, requirements regarding protocol changes, continuing review, training, access, purchasing, and occupational health and safety.  

Definitions

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) – Local working group that research facilities (i.e. Chief Executive Officer or designee) must appoint in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals to oversee the institution's animal program, facilities, and procedures.  

Procedures

Information regarding forms and procedures is available on the Office of Animal Research website.

Contacts