ABSTRACT
Federal law, regulation, and policy stipulate that the IACUC must report to the individual who has been designated to serve as the IO. This chapter claries what it means to be the IO by reviewing this individual’s responsibilities under the PHS Policy, the AWAR and the Guide. Examples of common job titles for IOs in various types of institutions are used to provide the reader with a sense of the level of authority that this person should have within an institution. The chapter concludes with brief discussions of useful methods for educating the IO about the functions of its IACUC. The chapter also provides suggestions on which individuals may contact NIH/OLAW, APHIS/AC, or AAALAC for guidance on IACUC related issues.
