The use of experimental animals is an essential component in the research of many Bioengineering graduate students. UC San Diego has excellent animal care facilities and professional veterinary staff. UC San Diego’s animal care and use program, including its facilities, is regularly inspected by the USDA and is fully accredited by AAALAC, International.
All research and teaching at UC San Diego involving live vertebrate animals must be conducted under an Animal Use Protocol approved by the UC San Diego Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which consists of veterinarians, scientists and lay people. The committee adheres to the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, which is enforced by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations enforced by the USDA. Any changes to the procedures described in the protocol must be approved in advance by the IACUC.
Students and personnel who participate in any capacity in animal research at UCSD must first register with the IACUC, be listed on an approved Animal Use Protocol, and submit a Personnel Qualifications (PQ) Form. Their qualifications must be approved by the IACUC Office before working with animals. Each person must also complete the “Orientation to Animal Research at UCSD” class and be adequately trained in each species and each procedure that they will perform. Personnel must also enroll in the Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP). Once they have been added to an Animal Use Protocol, they will have access to the current protocol online.
If you have any health, training or ethical concerns regarding the use of animals in your research do not hesitate to discuss them with a faculty member.
For more information, please visit IACUC or contact the IACUC office at 534-6069 or iacuc@ucsd.edu.