The Animal Care Program at Michigan State University is comprised of two key divisions, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Campus Animal Resources (CAR). The IACUC advises the University President and the Institutional Official regarding all aspects of the responsible use of animals in university research and instructional activities, while the role of CAR is to provide resources and services to support the use of animals in research.
Members of the IACUC are appointed by the President of the University to oversee and evaluate all aspects of the institution's animal care and use program. The IACUC includes scientists, veterinarians, and local community members who review protocols and monitor research-related activities to ensure compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.
A fundamental goal of the Animal Welfare Act and accompanying regulations is the minimization of pain and distress by considering alternative models and methods. Considering alternatives means considering the 3Rs - reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal use in research, testing, and teaching. The best way to find and consider alternatives is to conduct a thorough search of the scientific literature.
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) creates and maintains bibliographies on various 3Rs topics. These bibliographies contain topic-focused citations found through multiple bibliographic database searches, and are a good starting point for considering alternatives.
