Skip to content. Skip to navigation
Personal tools
Texas A&M University
Home → Research With Animals → Maintaining an AUP → Investigator/Instructors Responsibilities
Document Actions

Investigator/Instructors Responsibilities


Investigators and Instructors are entrusted to ensure the humane use of animals.  They have a direct and continuing responsibility to ensure that animals are adequately cared for in a humane fashion.  It is the responsibility of the investigator to:

    ·    Design and perform procedures on the basis of relevance to human or animal health, advancement of knowledge, or the  good of society;

    ·    Use the appropriate species, quality, and number of animals to obtain valid results;

    ·    Avoid or minimize discomfort, distress, and pain in concert with sound science;

    ·    Use appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia;

    ·    Establish experimental end points;

    ·    Provide appropriate animal husbandry and veterinary care directed and performed by qualified persons;

    ·    Conduct experiments on animals only under the close supervision of qualified and experienced persons;

    ·    Consider alternatives to procedures that may cause more than momentary of slight pain and distress;

    ·    Avoid unnecessary duplication of experiments;

    ·    Expected to consult with the attending veterinarian in planning animal uses involving more than minimal pain and distress;

    ·    Provide appropriate peri-operative care to animals;

    ·    Obtain IACUC approval prior to the initiation of animal work.