About Us

The UNO IACUC Office and the Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) are committed to helping investigators facilitate research. We are happy to answer any research-related questions and assist with the submission of all IACUC applications and forms.

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Commitment and Mission Statement

Composition of the IACUC

Responsibilities of the IACUC

Activities Requiring IACUC Approval

Institutional Regulatory Registration

Commitment and Mission Statement

The University of Nebraska at Omaha has provided a formal assurance to the Department of Health and Human Services the UNO will comply with Public Health Service (PHS) policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (revised as of August 2002). This guarantee applies to all research, research training, teaching, and biological testing involving live vertebrate animals conducted by anyone on the premises of UNO. It also applies to research conducted elsewhere by faculty, students, staff of UNO that is performed in connection with the investigators' institutional responsibilities.

In order to comply with this assurance, UNO has established an institutional committee competent to oversee the institution's animal program, facilities, and projects involving the use of animals. Under the provisions of the Public Health Service Policy, this committee has been designated as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC is devoted to the principle of carrying out meaningful scientific research through the use of laboratory animals in accordance with humane standards.

Composition and Responsibilities of the IACUC

Composition of the IACUC
The IACUC is a committee composed of practicing scientists experienced in research involving animals, specialists in veterinary medicine, animal care technicians, non-scientists, and lay representatives. The IACUC serves UNO.

Responsibilities of the IACUC

The IACUC has general oversight responsibility for the UNO animal welfare program and the institution's animal facilities, including satellite facilities. A review of the institution's program for humane care and use of animals and inspection of all of the institution's animal facilities, including animal use areas, is carried out twice a year.

1. The IACUC serves as an educational training resource for the research community in all aspects of animal research and welfare.
2. The IACUC serves in an advisory role to the administration in all matters involving animals.
3. The IACUC has the authority to approve projects involving animals and to require modifications as needed.
4. The IACUC has the authority to disapprove projects involving animals and to suspend projects if it determines the conduct of the projects is not in compliance with the PHS Policy, the USDA Regulations, and IACUC Guidelines.
5. The IACUC and the UNO veterinarians have the authority to observe, when necessary, surgical procedures and other techniques applied to animals.
6. Where procedures have caused unacceptable pain and distress to an animal that cannot be alleviated, the UNO veterinarians are authorized to euthanize the animal. Every attempt will be made to contact and consult with the investigator before such action is taken.
7. The IACUC serves as a liaison between UNO and the community for all matters involving animal research and welfare.

Activities Requiring IACUC Approval

Activities that require IACUC approval are listed below:

1. The use of live vertebrate animals in all research and biological testing projects conducted by anyone at UNO regardless of the source of funding.
2. The use of live vertebrate animals in any research project conducted at another institution or elsewhere by faculty, students, staff, or other representatives of UNO in connection with their institutional responsibilities. The IACUC may accept an approval statement from any other IACUC in an institution with a PHS assurance.
3. The use of live vertebrate animals in all teaching or research training or both conducted at UNO.

Institutional Regulatory Registration

OLAW

Assurance #D20-01080

August 13, 2024 - July 31, 2028

AAALAC Accreditation #000366

2024 - 2027

USDA

Registration #47-R-0021

Designated Review (DMR)

Protocols that qualify for DMR may be submitted to the IACUC by any Monday of the month. DMR packets are sent out every Wednesday and due back the following Wednesday.

All members receive the item and have the opportunity to request Full Committee Review (FCR). If no member requests FCR, protocols are assigned to 1-3 members of the Committee for review. The reviewers then recommend that the protocol be approved or request modifications.