Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Rensselaer is responsible, under federal law, for the appropriate performance of all research and teaching activities that involve the use of vertebrate animals - mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles.

The NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare strictly regulates care and use of animals for research and teaching.  All animal research in the USA should follow the guidelines for animal care and use that are described in the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" (1996 edition; Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council). 

The federal mandate reads: “Each institution which falls under authority of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA; protects all mammals beyond but not including rodents) and/or receives PHS support for research and teaching involving laboratory animals must operate a program with clear lines of authority and responsibility, a properly functioning Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), procedures for self-monitoring, adequate veterinary care, a program of occupational health, sound animal husbandry practices and appropriate maintenance of facilities for housing animals.”

Questions and Form Submissions

Direct all inquiries to Joelle Willis (276-4232; willij@rpi.edu).

RPI Investigators Should Know:

• Rensselaer has a functioning IACUC that is responsible for ensuring the performance of appropriate animal husbandry and research procedures by all faculty, staff and students.
• The IACUC reports to the Vice President for Research, who is the Rensselaer Institutional Official (IO) of record.
• The IACUC supervises animal research and provides veterinary supervision and care. Rensselaer retains the services of a licensed veterinarian who is certified in the field of laboratory animal medicine.
• Rensselaer provides occupational health guidance and care for all researchers and staff.