Purpose, Scope, Authority
Boise State University is committed to ensuring the humane and ethical care and use of animals in its research and academic activities. The university strives to advance scientific knowledge, teaching, and research while balancing the use of animals that contribute to these endeavors. The Animal Care and Use Program Guide is intended to serve as a reference and guide to the university’s policies, program, processes and procedures when it comes to research, teaching, and testing involving animals. The university’s program is guided by a number of regulatory obligations and sponsor/agency/organizational requirements/guidelines such as, but not limited to:
- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide)
- Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
- Public Health Service (PHS) Policy
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines on Euthanasia
Boise State University is responsible for the review of all activities involving animal use and the procurement, handling, and care of animals used of research, training, or testing if:
- the research, training, and testing is conducted under the auspices of the university, no matter of funding sources, or
- the research, training, and testing is conducted under the direction of any faculty, student, staff, or agent of the university in connection with his/her university responsibilities, or
- the research, training, and testing is conducted under the direction of any faculty, student, staff, or agent of the university using any property or facility of the university.
The responsibility for compliance with federal, state or university regulations concerning activities involving the care and use of animals rests with the President of Boise State University. The President delegates this authority to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRED) to serve as the Institutional Official (IO).
Protocols that have been approved by the IACUC may be subject to further appropriate review and approval by the institution. If the IACUC approves a protocol, the university is not required nor obligated to conduct the activity. The university may not allow the conducting of an activity involving the care and use of animals if it has not been approved by the IACUC. Other committee approvals are the responsibility of the Principal Investigator.