When may a facility that only uses species not covered under AWA still need an IACUC?

A facility that only uses species not covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) may still need an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) if it receives federal funding for its research. This requirement arises from the guidelines that govern federally funded research, which often mandate compliance with certain ethical standards and oversight regardless of the specific species involved. The purpose of an IACUC is to ensure that all aspects of research involving animals, including their care and use, adhere to approved protocols designed to uphold welfare measures and ethical considerations.

While some facilities may believe that they are exempt from IACUC requirements since their research does not involve species covered by the AWA, receiving federal funding brings additional obligations that supersede species consideration. This helps to maintain uniform standards of animal welfare across all types of research, even if the specific animals used are not regulated under AWA guidelines.

The other choices do not inherently necessitate an IACUC:

• Conducting studies on animals bred for research does not guarantee the need for an IACUC if those species are not covered under the AWA and no federal funding is involved.

• Being a non-profit organization does not automatically trigger IACUC requirements unless other criteria, such as federal funding, are met.