Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Animal experimentation
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Scope of IACUC review
IACUC application and review cycle
Education on the use and management of laboratory animals
Purchase and management of drugs for animal experiments
Guidelines
Related information
- Animal experimentation refers to experiments conducted on laboratory animals for scientific purposes such as education, testing, research, and the production of biological products.
- Principles of animal experimentation
- Animal experimentation should be conducted with consideration for the well-being of humanity and the dignity of animal life.
- When considering animal experimentation, alternative methods should be prioritized.
- Animal experimentation should be conducted by individuals possessing knowledge and experience in the ethical treatment and scientific use of laboratory animals, and with the minimum number of animals necessary.
- In cases where experiments involving pain to laboratory animals are to be conducted, animals with low sensory capabilities should be used, and appropriate measures, such as the use of analgesics, sedatives, and anesthetics, should be taken to alleviate pain according to veterinary methods.
- Individuals conducting animal experimentation should promptly examine the animals after the experiment ends, and animals that have recovered normally may be donated or adopted.
- In cases where animals, based on the examination results according to paragraph 5, are deemed unable to recover or are recognized as having to endure continuous suffering, they should be promptly handled in a manner that avoids causing further pain.
- Prohibition of animal experimentation
- Experiments involving lost or abandoned animals (including animals under protection)
- Experiments involving volunteer animals
However, experiments on volunteer animals may be conducted after review and approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, provided there is concern about serious harm to the health and safety of humans and animals due to the spread of infectious diseases, such as zoonoses, or when conducting research on the selection and training methods of volunteer animals.
- The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a committee responsible for promoting the protection and ethical treatment of laboratory animals and overseeing deliberations related to animal experimentation.
- Responsibilities of IACUC
- Formulating policies for animal experimentation conducted at KAIST and evaluating the legality of related facility operations and management procedures
- Reviewing and approving the ethical and scientific validity of animal experimentation plans
- Addressing overall matters related to ethics education, training, and other aspects of animal experimentation
- Assessing the appropriateness of animal experiments using hazardous substances
- Investigating the operation status of animal experimentation facilities
- Providing guidance and conducting inspections on approved animal experiments
- Handling matters raised by the president or chair for legal reasons or to promote the protection and ethical treatment of laboratory animals
- Animal experiments involving living vertebrates that are conducted by KAIST researchers
- Experiments exempt from review
- Experiments using deceased organisms
- Experiments using bacteria, protozoa, or invertebrates Experiments where researchers retrieve materials from living vertebrates are subject to review.
- IACUC review applications can be submitted through the IACUC website. To apply for review, integrated membership registration with the KAIST Animal Experiment Center and IACUC is required.
- After logging into the IACUC website, members can submit new proposals and modification proposals (for previously approved projects).
- The submission period for applications is from the 1st to the 10th of each month. The committee aims to complete the review for received projects aim within the same month. The progress of the review can be accessed on the IACUC website.
- According to the law regarding laboratory animals, researchers conducting animal experiments within the campus must undergo group education organized by the Korean Association for Laboratory Animals or participate in on-campus laboratory animal user education.
- The Korean Association for Laboratory Animals education is held six times a year, and detailed information, including application procedures, can be found on the website of the association (http://www.kafla.kr)
- On-campus laboratory animal user education is conducted twice a year, divided into the first and second halves, according to the legal education period and curriculum. Announcements are made through the campus portal site and e-mail. Applications can be submitted through the IACUC website (https://iacuc.kaist.ac.kr/) After completing the education, the certificate can be viewed on the IACUC website.
- Drugs intended for use in animal experiments must be reflected in the animal experiment plan and obtain approval from the IACUC. The purchasing procedure varies depending on the type of drug.
- In particular, most injectable anesthetics are designated as psychotropic drugs. Therefore, only researchers registered to handle narcotics are allowed to purchase and use these drugs. Registration as a researcher handling narcotics must be applied for at the local Food and Drug Administration where the research institute is located. The purchase and use of narcotics must be managed by entering relevant information into the Narcotics Information Management System.
- Some antibiotics and pharmaceuticals for animals are designated as prescription veterinary drugs. Therefore, a prescription from a veterinarian is required for purchase. Animal pharmaceuticals can be purchased from preferred veterinary drug wholesalers or retailers. These suppliers may request a copy of the animal experiment plan and KAIST IACUC approval documents.
- For inquiries regarding the issuance of veterinary prescriptions, contact the Strategic Research Planning Team (Ext. 2187).
- IACUC operates on the principle of pre-review. Researchers must apply for review before conducting any animal experiments.
- Animal experiments must be conducted only within the approved scope.
- Records of laboratory animals used in animal experiments should be periodically entered and managed via the Animal Information Management page on the KAIST Animal Experiment Center website.
- After the completion of animal experiments, a final report must be submitted to the IACUC.
- Animal Protection Act and Veterinarians Act, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Laboratory Animal Act and Narcotics Control Act, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
- nimal and Plant Quarantine Agency’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee : http://www.animal.go.kr/aec/main/main.jsp
- KAIST Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee : http://iacuc.kaist.ac.kr