About IACUC

Elon University affirms that respect for all forms of life is an inherent characteristic of scientists who conduct research involving animals, that the respectful treatment, care, and use of animals involved in research and teaching is an ethical and scientific necessity, and the use of animals in research and teaching contributes to the advancement of knowledge and the acquisition of understanding.

All vertebrate animal use, including field studies, conducted by University faculty, students, or staff, or supported by University funds, must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC prior to the initiation of that activity, regardless of where it will be performed. All personnel should be sufficiently familiar with the AWR, PHS Policy, Guide, and these IACUC Policies, so that their care, treatment and use of animals will be in accordance with these principles.

Elon University has established and provides resources for an Animal Care and Use Program that is managed in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (GUIDE), the Animal Welfare Regulations Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations Subchapter A, “Animal Welfare”, Parts 1-3 (AWR), and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy). Studies of wild animals in natural settings are conducted in accordance with the Acceptable Field Methods in Mammalogy, Guidelines for the Capture, Handling, and Care of Mammals, the Guidelines for Use of Fishes in Field Research, the Guidelines for Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field Research, and the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research.

The Assistant Provost for Scholarship and Creative Activity, Dr. Amy Overman, is the Institutional Official responsible for the Animal Care and Use Program. The Institutional Official has appointed an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is responsible for oversight and evaluation of the animal care and use program, its procedures and facilities to ensure that they are consistent with IACUC Policies.

The IACUC consists of not less than seven appointed members, and includes a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine who has direct or delegated responsibility for activities involving animals at the institution, a practicing faculty scientist experienced in research involving animals, a member who is not affiliated with the University other than as a member of the IACUC who represents general community interests, a faculty member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area, a lab manager from the Biology, Chemistry or Physics departments who also serves on the campus Safety Committee, and two additional faculty scientists appointed from the School of Health Sciences or the following departments in the College of Arts and Sciences: biology, chemistry, environmental science, exercise science, or psychology.