Research involving animal subjects: UCSD is responsible for assuring the health and welfare of animal subjects used in research and teaching at all UCSD and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) locations.

Responsibilities:

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): The IACUC oversees the university's animal care and use programs, facilities and procedures and ensures the appropriate care, use, and humane treatment of animals used for research, testing and education. The IACUC is also responsible for reviewing all animal use protocols, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, inspecting animal facilities and laboratories, and overseeing training and educational programs. The IACUC serves as a resource to faculty, investigators, technicians, students, and staff, providing guidance in planning and conducting all animal use procedures in accordance with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. The faculty members of this committee are appointed by the institutional official (Vice Chancellor for Research) from each school and functional unit of the university.



• Animal Welfare Program (AWP): The AWP is the administrative, regulatory, and compliance arm of the campuswide animal care and use program. The AWP staff are the administrative support for the IACUC, the animal welfare advisors to principal investigators and administrators, and the regulatory compliance assurance for the IACUC, the institutional official, and the campus.



• Institutional official (IO): The institutional official is the individual who has the authority to sign the institution's PHS Assurance, making a commitment on behalf of the university that the requirements of the Public Health Service policy will be met. The institutional official at UCSD is the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Questions? For information about research involving animal subjects, contact the IACUC, (858) 534-6069. For information or comments on the Administrative Responsibilities Handbook, contact Laura Osante, (858) 534-0660.