Standards and Procedures
Veterinary Oversight for Animals Used in Research or Teaching, Guidelines for
Details
Federal regulations require research institutions to ensure the attending veterinarian has appropriate authority to provide adequate veterinary care and oversight of other aspects of animal care and use.
Veterinary Authority for Animals on IACUC Protocols
- The attending veterinarians in the Division of Animal Resources (DAR) and the Agricultural Animal Care and Use Program (AACUP) oversee and have authority over veterinary care for all animals owned or leased by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and for wildlife used in research, teaching, demonstration, or extension activities.
- The attending veterinarians do NOT oversee or have authority over veterinary care for privately owned animals.
- When the Illinois-owned or Illinois-leased animals are housed remotely, or veterinary care is not available from university veterinary personnel, a private veterinarian(s) may be approved by the IACUC to provide routine veterinary care. That veterinarian must communicate with the AACUP or DAR attending veterinarian, who retains overall authority and oversight of veterinary care.
- In certain circumstances, an investigator may be approved to provide veterinary care for Illinois-owned or Illinois-leased animals assigned to his or her research, teaching, demonstration, or extension protocol. However, since this poses a potential conflict of interest, the principal investigator (PI) must request IACUC approval by submitting Appendix B of the animal use protocol form. Even if the investigator is approved to provide routine veterinary care, the Illinois attending veterinarians retains overall authority and oversight of veterinary care.
In protocols with special veterinary needs, the IACUC may approve a specialist to provide veterinary care. The PI must request such approval on the animal use protocol form, and animal health concerns must be communicated to the respective attending veterinarian, who retains overall authority and oversight of veterinary care.
Approved Date
Revised Date
Standard