Oversight Committee
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Overview
Boston University has sought to maintain the highest standards for the care and use of animals in research, and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) plays an important role in this regard. The members of the IACUC believe that the use of animals in research is necessary and provides important information that benefits both humans and animals. Nevertheless, while many uses of animals in research are ethical and important, animals do have an interest in avoiding pain and suffering, and we have a moral obligation to ensure that their use is justified and that they are treated with care and respect. Accordingly, the mission of the IACUC is to consider the care and use of animals in research and teaching from an ethical perspective and to ensure institutional compliance with federal requirements through oversight of the laboratory animal care program. Research institutions are required to have an IACUC as a result of the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (Public law 99-158). Both the USDA and the Public Health Service promulgate principles, regulations, policies, and standards pertaining to the use of animals in research and teaching.
