Sample description of the UA Animal Care and Use Program
The Animal Care and Use Program is under the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (SVPR). Responsibility for
the oversight of the program is vested in the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Department
of University Animal Care (UAC).
UAC is responsible for overseeing all animal care and husbandry functions for the University. All centralized animal
facilities are under the direct control of UAC. Satellite facilities are staffed by individual investigators, but UAC provides
veterinary and husbandry oversight and has the authority to make changes in management of these facilities. The
University Farms are operated by the College of Agriculture, with oversight by the UAC Farm Animal Veterinarian.
The IACUC provides oversight for the total Animal Care and Use Program. Committee members and the Chair are
appointed by the SVPR, as delegated by the University President. The SVPR is the Institutional Official, and the IACUC
reports to the IO as mandated by PHS Policy and regulations of the Animal Welfare Act. The IACUC Committee maintains
a membership of ~20 members, including veterinarians, scientists, non-scientists and non-affiliated/community
members and reviews all research and University courses which require the use of vertebrate animal species. Every six
months the Committee inspects animal use locations and performs a complete programmatic review. The IACUC
oversees the required training and/or proficiency certification for all individuals who use or care for animals. Access to
centralized animal facilities is limited to those who have completed all applicable IACUC training and certification.
The University's Animal Care and Use Program is AAALAC accredited. There are five central animal facilities, including
one at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus. These facilities total 78,000 square feet of housing, surgical suites, procedure
rooms and associated support areas for a wide variety of animal species. The University also maintains domestic farm
animals at the Campbell Avenue Farm and the West Campus Agricultural Center.