APA Dictionary of Psychology

a committee responsible for overseeing an institute’s program and research protocols involving nonhuman animals. The primary responsibility of the IACUC is to ensure the humane treatment of the animals and compliance of the research program and procedures with established regulations. U.S. federal law mandates that any institute conducting research with laboratory animals must establish an IACUC, and any member of the institution who plans to conduct an experiment or undertake activities that involve animals must submit a proposal to the IACUC for review. See also animal care and use.