IACUC Information

The composition of the UAF Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) meets the requirements of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), the primary federal agencies that regulate and oversee the use of live vertebrates for research, teaching, and testing.

In addition to providing oversight for all uses of vertebrate animals at UAF, the IACUC plays an integral role in ensuring the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors accessing the UAF animal facilities. The IACUC, in conjunction with Veterinary Services, Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management (EHS&RM), and the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), is charged with overseeing and administering UAF's Occupational Health & Safety Program (OHSP) for the Animal Facilities. Education and awareness are key elements to the success of any occupational health and safety program and are the focus of our efforts at UAF.

IACUC Members

Most of the members of the UAF IACUC hold faculty positions in units that regularly conduct research, teaching, and testing activities using live vertebrates.  The committee also includes at least one community representative and the UAF Attending Veterinarian.  IACUC members are typically appointed to three-year renewable terms. The following is a list of the current IACUC members and their affiliations:

Andres Lopez, IACUC Chair, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Museum of the North
Chery Rosa, Attending Veterinarian, Animal Resource Center
Lauren Wild, scientist - UAS School of Arts and Sciences, Marine Biology
Kathy Chapados, non-scientist, unaffiliated member
Kristen Gorman, scientist - College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
Lara Horstmann, scientist - College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Institute of Marine Science
Jim Gibertoni, non-scientist, unaffiliated member
Carla Willetto, (alternate member) Associate Veterinarian, Animal Resources Center
 

Administrative Procedures

The UAF IACUC, Animal Care Program, and Animal Facility OHSP procedures are outlined in UAF's Assurance of Compliance with Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals on file with the OLAW. These procedures are formulated by the ORI and approved by the Institutional Official (IO), IACUC, and OLAW.  A current copy of UAF's Assurance is available for review from ORI.

IACUC Meetings & Deadlines

The UAF IACUC meets on the second Thursday of each month via video conference from 2:00-5:00 pm. to discuss applications requiring full committee review and to conduct other IACUC business.  

  • Protocol-related applications must be submitted via IRBNet by 5:00 local time, 5 business days before the meeting.
  • Non-protocol-related items must be submitted to the Research Integrity Administrator via e-mail to uaf-iacuc@alaska.edu at least 5 business days before the scheduled meeting date.

PIs whose projects are under review are welcome to join the meeting; please contact the administrator for more information. 474-7800.  Note:  All submissions for IACUC review must be made through IRBNet!

IO Support

The Institutional Official supports the IACUC through administrative support provided by ORI to maintain institutional registrations, certifications, and permits associated with the care and use of vertebrate animals. ORI drafts initial applications, renewal requests, and commonly required reports on behalf of the IO. In addition, ORI makes required non-compliance activities and repercussions impacting the progress of funded awards reports to State and Federal regulatory agencies.