ABSTRACT
The general composition requirements for IACUCs, established by federal regulations since 1985, give institutions considerable latitude in fashioning their IACUCs to reect the scientic expertise and meet the needs of their animal care and use programs. Although the specic IACUC composition requirements vary according to the regulatory oversight agency involved, both the AWAR and the PHS Policy require the IACUC to have a diversied membership, including a veterinarian and a member who is unafliated with the institution. The PHS Policy further extends the diversication by requiring the institution to include a nonscientist on the IACUC. Membership diversication on the IACUC is intended to broaden the perspective and add depth to the important IACUC review processes. For example, in institutions conducting agricultural animal research programs, IACUCs should endeavor to incorporate members with appropriate agricultural expertise as recommended by the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching;1 other specialty areas of research animal use should be similarly addressed.
