Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

UNO is committed to ensuring ethics, honesty, and integrity in the pursuit of our efforts in education, research, and outreach. ORCA provides guidance, resources, and oversight to ensure that UNO and its project directors are in compliance with the regulations and policies that apply to UNO activities.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) have provided a joint formal assurance to the Department of Health and Human Services that UNMC and UNO will comply with the Public Health Service (PHS) policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (revised as of August, 2002).

This guarantee applies to all research, research training, teaching and biological testing involving live vertebrate animals conducted by anyone on the premises of UNMC or UNO. It also applies to research conducted elsewhere by faculty, students, staff of UNMC and UNO that is performed in connection with the investigators' institutional responsibilities.

In order to comply with this assurance, UNMC and UNO have established an institutional committee competent to oversee the institution's animal program, facilities, and projects involving the use of animals. Under the provisions of the PHS Policy, this committee has been designated as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

The IACUC is devoted to the principle of carrying out meaningful scientific research through the use of laboratory animals in accordance with humane standards. 

Assurance # A3294-01
October 31, 2012-- October 31, 2016

UNO Representatives

  • Dr. Jeffrey French, Psychology; (Vice Chair)
    • Dr. LaReesa Wolfenbarger, Biology
    • Liz Gunkelman, Attending Veterinarian
    • Heather Jensen, Coordinator of Animal Care (Ex Officio)

Training Requirements for Animal Users

          • UNMC and UNO are required by federal regulations to provide training for all personnel involved in the use and/or care of live vertebrate animals in research, testing and teaching. In order to comply with the aforementioned federal requirements, a training program has been established which consists of the IACUC Basics Training. Comparative Medicine has additional training requirements.

            For information regarding the UNMC/UNO IACUC review process and procedures, please visit the IACUC website.