ABSTRACT
One of the key components of an animal care and use program is the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The primary purpose of this chapter is to address how best to foster collaborative roles and responsibilities for members of the IACUC, with particular emphasis on the IACUC chair, IACUC administrator, and attending veterinarian (AV). Every member of the IACUC, the researchers, and the personnel in the facility who provide daily care for the animals should recognize they are providing stewardship for the animals used in activities approved by the committee. It is common knowledge that the time has long passed when researchers could freely use animals without any prior review and approval of a protocol by the IACUC or being subject to any ongoing oversight of their animal use. The IACUC chair is responsible for ensuring that the committee, which operates under the chair's direction, fulfills all its responsibilities mandated by federal and other requirements.
