Supporting Animal Research and Welfare
The University of Arkansas endorses and supports the responsible use of animals in research and teaching. The Animal Care and Use Program helps university faculty, staff, and students follow federal, state, and university policies related to the responsible use of animals in research and teaching. The university's Animal Care and Use Program is accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International).
Within the Animal Care and Use Program are the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Centralized Animal Facilities (CAF). The IACUC is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines governing the care and use of live, vertebrate animals in research, teaching, and training activities conducted by the university community. The CAF are a designated university service center, charging for animal care services provided to university researchers.
Brown Bag Talks
Did you miss our lunchtime Brown Bag talks introducing topics related to Biosafety, IACUC, Export Control, and using Streamlyne for IRB? Do you wish to learn more about these areas? You’re in luck! Here are the recordings of these sessions.
Ro Windwalker, Institutional Review Board (IRB) Coordinator, presents “A Walkthrough of the IRB Submission Process: How to Create, Complete, and Submit an IRB Protocol in Streamlyne”. (There is a handout available for this presentation here)
Forthcoming: Animal Care and Use Q & A with Dr. Rebecca Kavanaugh, Institutional Animal Care and Welfare (IACUC) Program Manager. This is an informal discussion of the regulations, forms, and procedures for performing research with animals.
Forthcoming: An overview of what types of research need an IBC protocol and the protocol submission process with Dr. Jim Hogan, the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Coordinator. This talk includes information on why rDNA research needs an IBC protocol.
Forthcoming: Melvin Torres, Export Control Officer, provides an overview of his area of expertise with “What is Export Control?”.
Research Integrity and Compliance Spotlight
Dr. Rebecca Kavanaugh has achieved Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) Certified Professional in IACUC Administration (CPIA) credential. The honor recognizes Dr. Kavanaugh’s command of IACUC responsibilities and knowledge in animal care and use. The credential also signifies that Dr. Kavanaugh has superior qualifications to perform IACUC functions in accordance with U.S. laws and policies, animal care ethical rules, and administrative best practices. Dr. Kavanaugh qualified for the credential after completing the eligibility requirements and passing the CPIA test. PRIM&R created the CPIA credential in 2007 to increase national standards in animal care and use programs. Congratulations, Dr. Kavanaugh!
Animal Care Events & Meetings
Committee meetings will be conducted via Teams or Zoom until further notice.
Here is a complete list of Research Integrity and Compliance events.
Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns
Any individual who has specific concerns that animals are not being used or treated in a humane and responsible manner by University faculty, staff, or students is encouraged to report such concerns to any member of the IACUC Program Staff (see below). The IACUC Chair, or other members of the IACUC appointed by the Chair, will investigate. If deficiencies are found, the IACUC will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of animals, and compliance with federal and state regulations and university policy on the care and use of animals in research, training and teaching activities.
Submit Anonymous Animal Welfare Report
From a mobile device, text @concerns to 35134. Reply with 1-YES to be sent a link to the reporting form.
Every effort will be made to protect the confidentiality, to the extent possible, of those reporting animal welfare concerns. Institutional members may not retaliate in any way against those reporting animal welfare concerns.