Originally Approved: 12/15/98
Reapproved: 4/20/2005, 6/15/11, 1/18/2012
The policy of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is that pain or distress should always be minimized to the extent that its’ reduction continues to permit the investigator to meet his/her experimental goals. The IACUC endorses the principal of the “3 Rs”, Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement, and each protocol is scrutinized to see if the number of animals to be used and the distress or pain they may feel can be further minimized. At minimum, if a procedure appears likely to cause discomfort, a contingency plan for analgesics (including drug, route and dose) must be included in the protocol. If animals are found in pain or distress, the veterinarians will follow this treatment plan. If treatment is not an option, animals will be euthanized.