Protection of Animals in Research

Policy

IACUC approval is required for all research directly involving animals, invertebrate and vertebrate, whether the animals are purchased or raised by the Minnesota State University, Mankato colony.

For field research, IACUC approval is required if:  a) there is an intervention or an interaction with an animal that would not be occurring in the absence of this research, or b) if the researcher is directly collecting tissues from animals euthanized in the field.  Animal research involving tissues collected by another investigator and sent to the Minnesota State University, Mankato researcher does not require IACUC approval. IACUC approval is highly recommended for use of animals in teaching but is not required by PHS. 

For IACUC purposes, research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.  Researchers are strongly urged to consult with the IACUC Chairperson or another committee member before submitting a proposal.

Procedure

IACUC information can be found at http://grad.mnsu.edu/research/iacuc/

 

Rationale

The Minnesota State University, Mankato Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) membership is mandated by the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.  Members are appointed by the Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Dean (the Institutional Official), and must include one veterinarian, one researcher, one animal care technician, one non-researcher, and one member who is outside the organization.  The IACUC is responsible for the welfare of vertebrate animals used in research.  The IACUC is governed by the Animal Welfare Act, the Health Research Extension Act of 1985, and the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy) section IV.A.

The purpose of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is to protect the welfare of vertebrate animal used in research.  It primarily accomplishes this by reviewing proposals for research and determining if the research is justified, and that the animals will be adequately protected and ethically treated.  The committee is also responsible for investigating concerns raised by any individual about the welfare of the research animals, for ensuring compliance with the committee’s decisions, and for informing the University community about the ethical treatment of research animals.  Minnesota State University, Mankato follows the rules set forth by PHS, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), and the publication, Guide for the Care of Use of Laboratory Animals.