The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the university's animal care and use programs, facilities and procedures ensuring the appropriate care, use and humane treatment of animals being used for research, testing and teaching.

The UML IACUC is charged with the protection of animal research and teaching subjects and reviews all activities utilizing live vertebrate animals for research, teaching and testing, ensuring compliance with federal animal welfare regulations, inspecting animal facilities and investigator laboratories, investigating animal concerns, and overseeing training and educational programs. IACUC approval is required in advance for all activities conducted by faculty, staff, students, and visiting researchers regardless of location and funding source.

The IACUC serves as a resource to faculty, principal investigators (PI), researchers, technicians, students, staff, and administrators, providing guidance in fulfilling the obligation to plan and conduct all animal use procedures with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.

IACUC Resources

Strand of DNA with evolutionary animals on it Image by Intueri
The IACUC ensures compliance with Public Health Service (PHS), USDA regulations and the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (pdf) by ensuring animal welfare through multiple different mechanisms including:
  1. Review and approval of all research and procedures.
  2. Inspection of all animal facilities where animal work occurs.
  3. Development of institutional policies and guidelines.
  4. Providing reports to the federal agencies.
Additional help is always available at the IACUC Office at IACUC@uml.edu.