Who signs off on IACUC actions and assurances?

• A. IACUC Chair
• B. Attending Veterinarian
• C. Institutional Official
• D. Principal Investigator

Answer: (C)

The Institutional Official signs off on IACUC actions and assurances. This person is the designated leader responsible for ensuring the institution complies with animal welfare laws and policies, and is the official who signs the IACUC-approved actions and the institution’s annual Assurance to the federal agencies. The IACUC Chair guides the committee’s reviews and decisions but does not have sign-off authority for institutional assurances. The Attending Veterinarian provides veterinary oversight and may participate in protocol review, but is not the official signer for institutional assurances. The Principal Investigator submits and conducts the research and may acknowledge approvals, but final sign-off on institutional assurances rests with the Institutional Official.