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General Information
PURPOSE
The NCI Animal Care and Use Committee (NCI-ACUC) is established to oversee the institute's animal program, facilities
and procedures and, to advise the Scientific Director on all matters of animal care and use at the institute. Accordingly, the NCI-ACUC is responsible for
ensuring that the institute's animal care and use program is operating in accordance with
1) The Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals
2) NIH Manual Chapter 3040-2, Animal Care and Use in the Intramural Program; and
3) The Animal Welfare Act and
its amendments.
Furthermore, the committee serves as a forum for discussion and decision making regarding issues impacting on the sound application of
animal resources to meet institute scientific objectives.
MEMBERSHIP
The NCI-ACUC consists of two divisional CCR Animal Care and Use Committees (CCR ACUC) and the central NCI-ACUC. The
NCI-ACUC will consist at a minimum of a chairperson, a non-scientific member, a non-affiliated member, the NCI animal program director, the safety
representative, and the chairpersons and veterinary members of each division ACUC. Each ACUC will be constituted and governed by the requirements and
responsibilities for institute animal care and use committees set forth by PHS and NIH policies and the Animal Welfare Act. Members are appointed by the
Scientific Director. Terms of appointment for new members are two years and subject to review by the Scientific Director.
Accordingly, each ACUC will consist at a minimum of five members meeting the following criteria: 1) one member who is a
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with training or experience in laboratory animal medicine and science who has direct or delegated responsibility for activities
involving animals at the institution; 2) one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals; 3) one member who primary concerns are in a
non-scientific area; 4) one individual who is not affiliated with the institution in any way other than a member of the ACUC, and is not a member of
the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution; and 5) one member representing the NIH Division of Safety, Occupational Safety and
Health Branch. No more than three members will be from the same laboratory, branch, or office within NCI.
FUNCTIONS
The central NCI-ACUC shall:
- Coordinate and oversee activities of each CCR ACUC, disseminate relevant information, serve as a forum for discussion of
cross divisional issues.
- Review and investigate concerns involving the care and use of animals that cross divisional lines.
- Make recommendations to the Scientific Director regarding any aspect of the institute's animal program, facilities, or personnel training.
- Maintain records of minutes of NCI-ACUC meetings,
records of semi-annual ACUC reports, and other communications or recommendations as forwarded to the NIH-ARAC or Office of Animal Care and USE, NIH (OACU).
- Be authorized to suspend an activity involving animals.
- Review and inspect the NCI program and facilities for humane care and use of laboratory animals semiannually using C.F.R. Title 9, Chapter I, Subchapter A - Animal Welfare and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for evaluation, prepare written evaluations, and submit same to the NIH-ARAC. ACUC members may participate in inspections in addition to NCI-ACUC members.
- Submit semiannually in April and October to the Director, OACU copies of approved minutes of ACUC meetings and a list of active animals study proposals with the following information: Proposal Number, Title, Principal Investigator, and Date Approved
- Fulfill reporting requirements of PHS Animal Welfare Policy, Paragraph IV.F.
- Prepare NCI's Annual Report of Research Facility
as required by USDA and submit same to NIH-ARAC at the November meeting.
Each CCR ACUC shall:
- Review and investigate concerns involving the care
and use of animals resulting from public complaints received and from reports
of noncompliance received from laboratory or animal facility personnel or
employees.
- Make recommendations to the Scientific Director
regarding any aspect of the animal program, facilities, or personnel
training.
- Review and approve, require modifications in (to
secure approval), or withhold approval of animal study proposals or proposed
significant changes in previously approved animals study proposals regarding
the use of animals in ongoing activities.
- Be authorized to suspend an activity involving
animals.
- Maintain minutes of CCR ACUC meetings to include
attendance, activities, animal study proposals reviewed, significant aspects
of the review, disposition (approval or withhold), and other deliberations.
Copies of minutes are provided to the Scientific Director and the Chair,
NCI-ACUC.
- Maintain records to include: 1) minutes of CCR
ACUC meetings and 2) records of animal study proposals and proposed
significant changes in previously approved animals study proposals; withheld
approvals shall be so documented. All records are maintained for at least
three years and, in the case of proposals, for three years following
termination of a study.
- Conduct continuing reviews of activities involving
animals at least annually.
NCI-Bethesda ACUC
Membership List
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