Institutional Animal Ethics Committee

The Federal and State agencies ensure regulation through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).  In the case of University of Ibadan this committee is known as University of Ibadan Animal Care and Use Research Ethics Committee (UI-ACUREC).

What is the UI-ACUREC?

• A Committee empowered by policy and law to ensure all research activities involving animals satisfy federal, state and local regulations and policies governing the use of animals in research.

The Committee is comprised of:

• Chair: A professor of Veterinary Medicine or Animal Medicine appointed by the Vice Chancellor
• One experienced scientist from each of the faculties of: Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture (Animal Science, Wildlife and Fisheries) Social Science (Psychology), Science (Zoology), Pharmacy; and Basic Medical Sciences.
• One Statistician; one Lawyer; two community representatives (lay persons: one male and one female).
• Head of the Research Ethics and Integrity Unit (Secretary)

Why Ethical Approval?

• Increasingly, humans transgressed (and continue to transgress) their ecological responsibilities
• Instead of living within a circle of ecological mutual interest, humans act in self-interest and at the expense of a relationship within nature that is caring and responsible.
• Millions of animals are used every year in many extremely painful, distressing and disgraceful scientific procedures

Example of Issues Affecting Physical/Mental Welfare and Naturalness

• Restricting sows to stalls
• Naturalness: restriction of oral and social behavior
• Physical: mouth injuries from bar biting
• Mental: frustration and pain from mouth injuries

Mission

To provide a platform geared towards educating the scientific world on global best practices as it concerns humane handling and use of laboratory animals for research purposes.

Vision

To engender and promote an enabling environment for conducting experimental researches involving laboratory animals with globally acceptable standards, directed towards the wholesome benefit of the research community and the society at large.

Principles Guiding Animal Care Use and Research

1. Design and performance of procedures on the basis of relevance to human or animal health, advancement of knowledge, or the good of society.
2. Best practices in responsible and humane handling and management of animals used for research purposes.
3. Use of appropriate species, quality, and number of animals.
4. Provision of appropriate animal transportation and husbandry directed and performed by qualified persons.
5. Conduct of experimentation on living animals exclusively by and/or under the close supervision of qualified and experienced personnel.
6. Adequate identification of hazards and risks (if any) associated with those hazards while conducting the experiment.
7. What are the dangers or hazards posed by the experimental procedure and adequate control measures to ensure safety and prevent contamination of the environment.
8. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) especially when handling poisonous or infectious agents.
9. Experimental facilities should be appropriately designed and standard operating procedures (SOPs) adhered to.
10. State precisely where the experimental work will be carried out (i.e. Department, specific location where the animals will be housed and experimental work conducted).
11. State if you have expertise in handling animals to be used OR state if you will get expert supports in handling and conducting the procedures on animals.
12. Source (S) of the animals to be used must be stated.