The Role of the IACUC in the Absence of Regulatory Guidance

Abstract

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) occasionally face regulatory requirements for which clear guidance may not be available. Either the regulating body has chosen not to provide such guidance or the guidance may be minimal or even ambiguous. Such guidance may be desirable when institutions have research needs, in which case IACUCs are left to their own interpretation to develop internal policies, procedures, and documents. Typically, this is approached by an IACUC working with partners in the laboratory animal community and may involve input from regulators who can provide context as well as parameters to consider. Over time, shared institutional experiences and documentation coalesce to create a general framework that provides a baseline for others to consider as templates for further policy elaboration or development. The strength of this approach relies on the ability to share freely, including having unobstructed access to such documents.