IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Mission Statement
Holy Family University has a strong commitment to animal care and treatment. Quality animal care is critical to quality research outcomes and mandated by Federal animal welfare regulations. The IACUC is responsible for interpreting the various animal welfare and humane use regulations and policies, and for establishing a set of guidelines governing the use of animals on campus. Animals may not be used on Holy Family University campus for research, teaching, or other purposes without prior approval of the IACUC. Committee approval is based on the IACUC review of the investigator’s submitted animal use protocol.
In addition, the IACUC performs the following broad services and functions:
- Assurance of animal care appropriate to the facility, personnel, ongoing research and teaching, and to the requirements of the NIH Guide.
- Precise and complete documentation of animal use on campus and proper identification of all animals.
- Education and training of faculty, staff, and students on animal research, animal use procedures, and animal welfare issues.
Holy Family University Statement on Animal Testing
Holy Family University is deeply committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition. As such, it recognizes that all forms of inquiry, including those pertaining to science, must be conducted in a manner that is both intellectually and ethically rigorous.
This is especially true where the pursuit of knowledge involves living subjects. In the case of animal subjects (vertebrate and cephalopod), the University holds that testing is never to be conducted frivolously or redundantly.
While the University always seeks viable alternatives to animal testing, it also recognizes that in certain cases, scientific knowledge, the benefits of which apply not only to humans but also to animals and the environment itself, can only be attained by means of research using animal subjects.
In these instances, the University proceeds with great caution and humility, recognizing that animals are not the property of human beings, but rather are the property of God, entrusted to the care of humanity (Catechism #2417, Laudito Si). Thus, every possible measure is taken to ensure the highest standards of ethical care and humane treatment of all animal subjects, regardless of the nature of testing.
For these reasons, any and all research, testing, and teaching practice involving live vertebrate animals and cephalopods must be both reviewed and approved by the IACUC prior to its undertaking.
Current IACUC Members
- Chairperson: Dr. Stacy McDonald: School of Arts a& Sciences *
- Institutional Official: TBD *
- Members:
- Dr. Mai-ly Pulley: School of Nursing & Health Sciences *
- Dr. Luanne Amato: School of Business *
- Dr. Daniel Bramer: School of Arts & Sciences and Ethicist *
- Dr. Brian Berry: School of Education *
- Dr. Karen Galardi: Professional Staff *
- Mr. John Andelfinger: Director of Institutional Assessment & Accreditation *
- Dr. Faye Schilling: Community Liaison *
- Dr. Susan Pello - Veterinarian
- Faculty Animal Care Representative (to be selected at the time of protocol submission)
* Also a member of the Institutional Review Board
Meeting Dates
Fall 2020 Semester
- Monday, September 28, 2020
- Monday, November 9, 2020
- December meeting date TBD
Spring 2021 Semester
- February meeting date TBD
- March meeting date TBD
- May meeting date TBD
Links and Resources
- IACUC Guidelines & Procedures - Coming Soon!