Overview of the Howard University Animal Care and Use Program (IACUC)

1. Overview of the Howard University Animal Care and Use Program (IACUC) • Regulatory/Oversight Agencies • OLAW (Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare) • USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) • AAALAC, International (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International)

2. Animal Facility Locations • College of Medicine, Adams Building • E.E. Just Hall

3. Howard Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACUC) Website (http://ovprc.howard.edu/offices/huiacuc.html) Example of Links • Veterinary Services, College of Medicine • OLAW • USDA • AAALAC • AWIC (Animal Welfare Information Center)

4. On-line Animal Investigator Training The On-line Animal Care and Use Training Program is serviced for Howard by the Laboratory Animal Training Association (LATA). The site provides training for all investigators, staff and students who require training in all areas of research. • Log on to www.huiacuc.howard.edu • Click on Online Training • Click on http://hazel.forest.net/latanet/client/howard/introduction.htm

5. Program Management • IACUC Application Submission • Protocol Review and Committee Action • Data Management between the IACUC and Veterinary Services • Occupational Health & Safety Program for Animal Caregivers and Users • Risk Assessment Survey

6. Facilitated Access for Signatory Approval of Protocols Presented • Chairs • Deans/Program Directors

7. Semi-Annual Program Review and Facility Inspection • To be used as a briefing tool to the Vice President for Research & Compliance and the President on the Program’s Status • Review of the Animal Care and Use Program • Inspection of Animal Facilities and Investigator Laboratories

8. Ethical ResponsibilityinBiomedical Research

9. MYTHOR FACT

10. MYTH: • Computer models and cell cultures can replace animal testing. FACT: • There is no complete alternative to animal research.

11. MYTH • Dogs, cats and monkeys are used more than any other animal in medical research. FACT: • Practically all research animal are rodents—mice and rats—bred for this purpose. • There is an essential need for canines in the study of lung and heart disease as their cardiovascular and respiratory systems closely match those of humans.

12. MYTH: • Lost and stolen pets are sold to laboratories. FACT: • Scientist neither need nor want to do research on pets. • The vast majority of these animal were bred specifically for research.

13. MYTH: • There are no laws or government regulations to protect research animals. FACT: • Federal regulations governing the care and use of animals in biomedical research are more extensive than those covering human research subjects.

14. Regulatory Animal Oversight Agencies • Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)--- National Institutes of Health (NIH) • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC)

15. MYTH: • Researchers are indifferent to the well being of animals. FACT: • For humane, compassionate and scientific reasons, researchers are deeply concerned about the condition of the animals they study.

16. MYTH: • Research animals are kept in pain. FACT: • The vast majority of biomedical research does not result in significant pain or distress. • 55% of all research procedures with animals involved no more than slight or momentary pain or distress.

17. Potential Pain & Distress Categories • Pain Category C:No pain or distress will occur OR any pain or distress will be slight or momentary • Pain Category D: Procedures, such as tumor production, surgical procedures, etc., which cause more than slight or momentary pain or distress will be employed (i.e. surgical procedures, etc): However, appropriate drugs or other methods will be used to prevent or relieve significant pain or distress.

18. Potential Pain & Distress Categories (cont.) • Pain Category E: No method is available for alleviating the pain or distress OR the available appropriate drugs would interfere with the experiment. • IF PAIN CATEGORY D OR E IS CHECKED, you must provide the IACUC with the methods used to assess alternatives to each potentially painful procedure. A literature search must be included if D or E are checked.

19. MYTH: • There is no need to test consumer products on animals—some companies don’t. FACT: • Manufacturers of food, drugs, household goods, cosmetic products, pesticides and other chemicals have an ethical and legal obligation to protect consumers from hazardous consumer products.

20. MYTH: • If you really love animals, you support the animal rights movement and its efforts to end animal research. FACT: • The vast majority of Americans support improving human and animal health through the responsible and humane use of animals in medical and scientific research.