The AgriLife Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (AgriLife IACUC) has been established to evaluate, oversee and authorize the use of animals in research within the Texas A&M University System at locations outside Brazos and Burleson Counties. The AgriLife IACUC is responsible for providing training and support to faculty and staff engaged in animal research.

 

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Report an Animal Use Concern | Resources | Training| Occupational Health Program

Report an Animal Use Concern

Anyone concerned with an animal’s welfare or is aware of non-compliance with policies, rules, regulations, and laws regarding animal care and use for research, teaching, or testing may contact a member of the AgriLife Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (AgriLife IACUC), Attending Veterinarian, or AgriLife IACUC administration. Complainants may remain anonymous. It is the goal of Texas A&M AgriLife to ensure all animals are treated humanely and in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act.

Each AgriLife IACUC member, alternate, and staff member is responsible for referring any concerns received to the AgriLife IACUC Chair. If the concern is made in writing or via email, it will be forwarded to the Chair with a note indicating the date and time of receipt of the concern. All allegations of animal mistreatment or non-compliance are taken seriously and investigated, even if the complainant chooses to remain anonymous.

To make an anonymous report concerning livestock welfare, please contact

• Bill Pinchak, Chair | aganimal@ag.tamu.edu |  (940) 647-3916
• Texas A&M AgriLife Ethics & Compliance office | (979) 314-3442
• Ethics Point – Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline | (888) 501-3850 |EthicsPoint – Texas A&M University System

Resources

• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching
• AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia
• Justification of Animal Numbers
• Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• USDA Animal Welfare Act
• USDA Animal Welfare Regulations
• USDA Worksheet and Instructions for Alternatives Literature Searching

 

 

Training

It is the responsibility of Texas A&M AgriLife to assure that all Texas A&M AgriLife Research personnel involved in the care, treatment, and use of animals in research and teaching are qualified to perform their duties and are aware of regulations and requirements applicable to their work with animals. As part of the AgriLife IACUC Animal Use Protocol (AUP) approval process, all personnel associated with an AUP must complete the “Working with the IACUC” training module that is available on the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Web site prior to the approval of any new or amended AUPs.

• CITI Training—https://www.citiprogram.org/

 

Occupational Health Program

All personnel handling animals on an Ag. IACUC protocol are required to enroll in the TAMU Biosafety Occupational Health Program (BOHP).  For more information on enrollment, please visit the BOHP Website at https://vpr.tamu.edu/biohazards-in-research-teaching-or-testing/biosafety-occupational-health-program/ .  For more information on Zoonotic Diseases associated with Livestock and Wildlife, please visit the TAMU Working with Animals resource page at https://vpr.tamu.edu/biohazards-in-research-teaching-or-testing/biosafety-occupational-health-program/working-with-animals/ . For more information on Bloodborne Pathogens and the safe handling of sharps, please visit the TAMU Bloodborne Pathogens information page at:  https://vpr.tamu.edu/biohazards-in-research-teaching-or-testing/biosafety-occupational-health-program/bloodborne-pathogens/