Compliance Committees Team

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) services include: 

• Review and approve animal use protocols involving live vertebrate animals.  
• Provide training and education to researchers and staff on proper animal care and use. 
• Conduct semi-annual inspections of animal housing and use facilities and laboratories. 
• Conduct Post Approval monitoring (PAM) of animal care and use program to ensure compliance and adherence to best practices, such as those outlined in The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.  
• Investigate concerns raised by faculty and staff regarding the humane care and use of lab animals. 
• Semi-annual review of the University’s animal program. 

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) services include:  

• Review and approve all in vivo (animal and clinical trial) and in vitro research protocols involving biological materials.  
• Provide training and education to researchers and staff on NIH guidelines and biosafety standards to ensure regulatory compliance and ethical conduct in research. 

Embryonic Stem Cell Oversight Committee (ESCRO) services include:  

• Scientific Review and Approval: Evaluate and approve the scientific merit of all research protocols involving human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human somatic cell nuclear transfer (hSCNT) prior to initiation, ensuring alignment with institutional and national guidelines. 
• Registry Maintenance: Maintain comprehensive registries of all human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human somatic cell nuclear transfer (hSCNT) research conducted at the University, including documentation of hESC lines derived or imported by University investigators. 
• Education and Compliance Training: Promote responsible conduct of research by ensuring that investigators and trainees are educated on University, state, and federal regulations governing hESC and hSCNT research. 

Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential Committee (DURC & PEPP) services include:  

• Pre-Award Review: All DURC/PEPP-related proposals must be reviewed by the IRE before federal funding decisions are made.  
• Risk Categorization: The Committee determines whether research falls under Category 1 or 2 and works with the Principal Investigator (PI) and funding agency to develop a risk mitigation plan.  
• Training and Education: While not yet mandatory, there are discussions about requiring PIs and their teams to complete CITI training on DURC/PEPP. 
• Provide training and education to researchers and staff on DURC/PEPP before conducting research involving any of the listed agents or toxins.  

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Oversight: 

• Guidance on proper management of controlled substances used in nonclinical research.
• Yearly audits to ensure accurate inventories and records are kept.