The Villanova University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for oversight of the university's animal facilities and procedures to ensure appropriate care and humane treatment of all vertebrate animals being utilized for education and research. The IACUC serves as a critical resource to faculty, staff, students, and administrators to facilitate training and educational programs and provide guidance to maintain the highest ethical and scientific standards for all academic and scholarly activities that involve animal use. The committee meets quarterly for animal protocol review, facility inspection and program assessment.

Federally Mandated IACUC Functions:

• Review at least every six months the institutional programs for humane care and use of animals in teaching and research activities.
• Inspect at least every six months all of the animal housing and use facilities using the USDA Regulations/Guide for appropriate standards as a basis.
• Prepare and submit semi-annual reports of IACUC activities, facility inspections, and program reviews to the Institutional Official.
• Submit reports on animal utilization activity to federal oversight regulatory agencies including the USDA and the National Institute of Health's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
• Review and investigate any concerns involving the care and use of animals and suspension of previously approved animal activity if it is determined that the activity is in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
• Education and training of personnel who actively participate in research or teaching activities involving the handling and use of live vertebrate animals.