About Us

UCSF’s Institutional Animal Care Use Committee (IACUC), is comprised of faculty members, veterinarians, and representatives of the public appointed by the Institutional Official, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Ethics and Compliance.  The IACUC is required by Federal law to oversee the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals and its primary charge is to review all animal projects and activities in research at UCSF. 

Federal law requires the IACUC to semi-annually inspect and evaluate all of UCSF’s animal facilities, the animal care and use program, and submit reports and recommendations to the Institutional Official.

The UCSF IACUC works closely with the Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) and the Environment, Health and Safety Office (EHS) to safeguard the wellbeing of all animals and researchers here at UCSF.  

The Committee is supported by the IACUC Office and helps coordinate the following:

  • Introductory training and guidance for people who work with animals
  • Work in conjunction with the UCSF Occupational health program to ensure that all individuals with animal contact are trained and monitored for prevention of animal-associated injuries, illnesses and infections
  • Consultations with researchers preparing animal studies
  • In-lab reviews and compliance audits of ongoing projects