Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) was established to protect the rights of vertebrate animal subjects in research. The IACUC exists as a safeguard to promote the ethical and responsible treatment of vertebrate animals in research. 

MCLA requires that all research involving vertebrate animals must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC before any research may be started. Guiding the IACUC review process is the application of the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Please refer to the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animals Welfare webpage for additional information on this policy and the USDA Animal Welfare Act.

All student researchers, administrators, and faculty must complete the appropriate training module within the CITI Program.

  • Go to the CITI homepage at https://about.citiprogram.org
  • Click on the 'Register' button
  • Type in 'Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' in the box under 'Select Your Organization Affiliation'
  • Select 'Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' from the drop-down menu
  • Click boxes: 'Agree' and 'Affirm'
  • Proceed to Register
  • Take the appropriate course training per your professor/advisor

IACUC Review Dates

Full Review - 4 weeks
Exempt and Expedited Review - 2 weeks

URC 2024 Review Dates

Students who plan to do animal research that will be presented at the URC this April, please note the below deadline:

Application Deadline - March 1, 2024

Applications should be emailed to IACUC@mcla.edu no later than the above deadline.

The application can be found here.

IACUC Members

Ann Billetz, Chair
Professor, Biology

Justin Golub
Professor, Biology

Jonathan Clinger
Lab Instructor, Biology

Tara Barboza
Professor, Business Administration

Jordan Vanuni
Aquarium Associate, Berkshire Museum

Alison Cowie
Veterinarian

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Ann Billetz at a.billetz@mcla.edu.