Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Commitment to Humane Animal Care
Creighton University is committed to the ethical and humane care of animals used in research, teaching, and testing. Our program is guided by federal regulations, institutional policies, and long-standing principles of responsible stewardship. All research and teaching involving vertebrate animals at Creighton must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before any project may begin.
About the IACUC
The IACUC was established in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy. The committee reports to the Institutional Official, who provides oversight of Creighton’s animal care and use program. Members of the IACUC are appointed by the Institutional Official and serve until they resign or are removed.
Committee Composition
Creighton’s IACUC includes at least five members with diverse professional and personal backgrounds. Federal regulations require that the committee include:
- A veterinarian experienced in laboratory animal medicine
- A scientist actively involved in animal research
- A nonscientist
- An individual who is not affiliated with Creighton University (a community member)
Creighton’s IACUC also includes one statistician to support informed protocol review.
Compliance & Accreditation
Creighton University’s animal care and use program maintains the following regulatory credentials:
- PHS/OLAW Assurance:
- Creighton University holds an active Public Health Service (PHS) Animal Welfare Assurance with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
- AAALAC International Accreditation:
- Creighton is fully accredited by AAALAC International, demonstrating our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of animal care and welfare.
- USDA Research Facility Registration:
- Creighton University is registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a research facility under the Animal Welfare Act.
IACUC Responsibilities
The IACUC ensures that all animal research at Creighton meets federal, state, and institutional requirements. Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring humane care, use, and transportation of laboratory animals
- Reviewing and approving research protocols
- Evaluating measures to minimize pain, distress, and discomfort
- Assessing suitability of housing, husbandry, and enrichment
- Ensuring veterinary medical care is available for the animals and provided by a qualified veterinarian
- Reviewing scientific merit relevance to animal use
- Evaluation of qualifications and training of personnel working with animals
- Determining that the number of animals and species selected are appropriate for proposed research
- Conducting semiannual program reviews and inspections with final reporting to the Institutional Official
- Investigating concerns related to animal care or use
Contact the IACUC
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Creighton University Email: iacuc@creighton.edu
Confidential Research Hotline
Research personnel are expected to report any known or suspected noncompliant conduct related to research or sponsored program activities conducted and/or approved through Creighton University via our NAVEX Global’s EthicsPoint system. Research personnel may report issues through the confidential hotline anonymously by phone at 855.256.0478 or the web intake form at EthicsPoint.
Research personnel may also address their research compliance related questions or concerns to the Director of Research Compliance at 402.280.2511.
