Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The Stonehill IACUC is composed of members from within the Stonehill community and from the greater community that Stonehill College is a part of. We consist of an IACUC Chairperson, who is a ranked faculty member at Stonehill College, a certified Attending Veterinarian with experience at other local colleges and universities, two scientist members of the Stonehill community, a non-scientist member of the Stonehill community, and a non-scientist, non-affiliated member who represents the animal welfare concerns of the greater community.
The Stonehill College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a resource and service to the teachers and scientific researchers at Stonehill College. Stonehill is committed to the appropriate and ethical use of animals in basic research, or for instructional purposes when suitable alternative methods are not available.
The IACUC contributes to our strength as a teaching and research institution. Many of Stonehill's educational and research programs provide students the opportunity to work closely with faculty members on basic research projects. Because of these opportunities, many of our science undergraduates go on to pursue graduate degrees in Biology, Neuroscience, Psychology and Medicine.
Some of the scientific research projects at Stonehill College involve the use of experimental animals. Stonehill is committed to the responsible use of animals in research and to exemplary animal care and use practices.
The use of animals in research and teaching is highly regulated. The Stonehill animal care program is subject to an annual inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We also provide annual reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and to the USDA as part of the compliance that must be continuously maintained.
The IACUC is mandated by OLAW providing internal oversight of the Animal Care Program at Stonehill College. The IACUC is responsible for overseeing and evaluating all aspects of animal care and use. We are also responsible for reviewing all protocols that involve animals to ensure that the criteria established by the PHS (Public Health Services) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Regulations (AWRs) are implemented. In its review of all proposals, the primary goal of the IACUC is to ensure that all scientific endeavors are consistent with applicable laws, regulations and policies relating to animal welfare. Inspection of the facilities and meetings of the IACUC occur on a semi-annual basis.