Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee

The University of Southern Maine Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a standing committee that oversees animal use and care at USM. The charge of the USM IACUC is to assure the humane care of animals used in biomedical and behavioral research, teaching, and testing. All animal users at USM must abide the regulatory requirements pertaining to the acquisition and use of live vertebrate animals for research, teaching, or other activities animals as outlined the USDA Animal Welfare Act, NIH requirements, and The Guide for the Care and Use of Animals.

All animal use and research must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC prior to ordering, breeding or using animals in research, teaching or testing at USM. The IACUC is responsible for assuring appropriate use, care, and treatment of all vertebrate animals used for University activities, and has the authority to approve or withhold approval of protocols for all such activities involving animals in accordance with the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals regulations of the Animal Welfare Act (Public Law 99-158).

All USM community members with concerns or questions pertaining to the specific use and care of animals at USM may contact the following for additional information:

• Dr. David Harris, Chair of the IACUC, at (207) 753-6586;
• Dr. Stephen Pelsue, Vice Chair of the IACUC, at (207) 780-4044; or
• The Office of Research Compliance at (207) 780-4268.