IX. Policy for ethical and humane research involving live vertebrate animals

All research and teaching activities at The University of Tampa involving live vertebrate animals must be approved in advance by the University of Tampa Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (UT-IACUC). The UT-IACUC follows policies required by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) of the Public Health Service. UT-IACUC is tasked with the oversight of all aspects of animal care and use by UT faculty and students in order to ensure compliance with provisions of the Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service policy on humane treatment of animals. UT-IACUC reviews all research and teaching activities that involve non-human vertebrates and ensures that all research and teaching activities related to those organisms conducted at the University or under the direction of UT faculty are guided by high scientific and ethical standards that meet or exceed all applicable federal, state and local animal welfare regulations. Any faculty planning to use live, non-human vertebrate animals in the course of research or teaching must submit an application available at the IACUC website(www.ut.edu/IACUC).

In compliance with federal regulations, “the membership of the committee shall consist of at least one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals, one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area, one member not affiliated in any way with the institution and not a member of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution, and not more than three members from the same administrative unit of the institution. “Internal representation on the IACUC at UT is composed of faculty from at least two colleges. As per federal regulations, UT-IACUC members will be appointed by the President of the University. (Approved, May 3, 2013)