Definitions

Public Health Service or PHS

The Public Health Service includes the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration; the Centers for Disease Control; the Food and Drug Administration; the Health Resources and Services Administration; the National Institutes of Health; and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services.

Animal

PHS Policy defines an animal as “any live, vertebrate animal used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation, or biological testing, or for related purposes”.  The Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR) define an animal as “any live or dead dog, cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or any other warm-blooded animal, which is being used or is intended for use for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet.  This term excludes birds, and rats and mice bred for use in research.”  The UMass IACUC ensures the campus is in compliance with all regulations by applying the AWAR and PHS regulations to all vertebrate animal use on campus for teaching and research.  Studies involving dead animals require reporting and justification to the IACUC but the IACUC does not require the PI to report the use of dead animals via a protocol unless the animals are killed for the purpose of the research or teaching activity.  The UMass IACUC considers embryos and fetuses as vertebrate animals if their CNS is sufficiently developed to feel pain.

Animal Facility

An animal facility is any and all areas, buildings, enclosures, rooms or vehicles, including satellite facilities used for: animal confinement, breeding, experiments including surgical manipulation, maintenance or transport. Animals may be held outside an animal holding facility for a period of less than 12 hours without IACUC approval except for survival surgery areas.  Locations where animals are held for more than 12 hours become a satellite facility requiring justification of, and prior approval by, the IACUC, and approval of husbandry plans and physical plant.

Institutional Official (IO)

The Institutional Official is the individual who has the authority to sign the Institution's Assurance, making a commitment on behalf of the university that the requirements of the Public Health Service policy will be met.  The Institutional Official at UMass Amherst is Chancellor John Lombardi.

Institutional animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is mandated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Health Research Extension Act (HREA).  The IACUC is charged under the AWA with representing “….society's concerns regarding the welfare of animal subjects  …”.  The CEO (Chancellor at UMass) is charged with appointing an IACUC but may delegate this authority to a senior administrator.  The IACUC reports to the IO.  The UMass IACUC has adopted uniform policies that apply to all vertebrate animals used in research and teaching regardless of whether the species are covered by the AWAR or PHS.

The IACUC is required to perform semiannual program evaluations as a means of overseeing the animal care and use program.  The IACUC reviews and approves animal use protocols.  Its decision to withhold approval may not be overruled by the IO.  It is also authorized to investigate concerns involving the care and use of animals and has the authority to suspend an activity involving animals if it determines that the activity is not being conducted in accordance with a description of the activity approved by the IACUC.

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