Office of Research and Sponsored Projects

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Classroom Research Guidelines

Most use of live vertebrate animals at TAMIU requires prior IACUC approval.

Only exceptions are those live vertebrate animal use activities listed below, which do NOT require IACUC approval:

• Activities in which the animal is under the control of the owner or an owner-designated handler (except in the case of clinical trials).
• Activities in which a veterinarian is providing routine clinical services to a privately owned animal, herd, or farm, or to wild animals.
• Field studies, as defined in Animal Welfare Act regulations ("...any study conducted on free-living wild animals in their natural habitat, which does not involve an invasive procedure, and which does not harm or materially alter the behavior of the animals under study.").

Although IACUC review and approval are not required for these activities, the IACUC is willing to conduct a standard review as requested. The IACUC recommends that these activities receive some type of administrative review for potential legal, liability, and public relations concerns.

The committee is selected by the TAMIU Institutional Official (Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs), as specified in 9CFR2.31, at the beginning of the academic year. Appointments will be for three years.

Letter of Assurance

In accordance with the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Policy IV.C.1-3, the IACUC shall review and approve, require modifications in (to secure approval), or withhold approval of all animal subject research activities that fall within its jurisdiction.

Report Animal Mistreatment

Concerned with an animal's welfare?
You can report animal mistreatment to any IACUC member, the IACUC Chair (956.326.2590), Texas A&M University System Ethics Hotline (1.888.501.3850), or at secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/19681