Which committee is required by the PHS Policy and the AWA to review and approve all vertebrate animal research protocols before the work begins?

• A. Institutional Review Board
• B. Veterinary Advisory Board
• C. Animal Welfare Committee
• D. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Answer: (D)

The review and approval of vertebrate animal research protocols before any work begins is handled by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Under both the Public Health Service Policy and the Animal Welfare Act, institutions must have an IACUC to evaluate proposed animal experiments, ensuring humane care and use, consideration of alternatives to animal use, and compliance with applicable laws and standards. The IACUC also conducts facility inspections and ongoing protocol monitoring to maintain oversight throughout the study. The other options don’t represent the mandated oversight body: an Institutional Review Board oversees human subjects research, a Veterinary Advisory Board is not the required review committee, and an Animal Welfare Committee is not the official term used in these federal requirements.