Georgia Tech ensures humane care for vertebrate animals used in scientific research and instruction, complying with the Federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Registered facilities undergo veterinary USDA inspections, while the Georgia Tech Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) monitors the animal care program every six months to ensure compliance. 

IACUC approval is required in advance for all activities conducted by faculty, staff, or students, regardless of location and funding source.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The IACUC plays a crucial role in overseeing the use of vertebrate animals in scientific investigation and instruction at Georgia Tech. It ensures that all researchers adhere to the highest animal welfare standards and ethical conduct. Researchers must submit their Animal Use Protocols (AUPs) through the TOPAZ system. IACUC approval is required to ensure compliance with all regulations, policies, and standards that protect animal welfare.

Registration of Animal Use for Purposes Other than Research and Instruction

Georgia Tech requires registration of certain animal-use activities that do not need an IACUC-approved protocol. This includes activities using Georgia Tech-owned animals for non-research, non-instruction purposes (e.g., production, clubs, non-instructional exhibits, or entertainment events), as well as activities involving animals not owned by Georgia Tech but conducted on Georgia Tech property or sponsored by Georgia Tech (e.g., Earth Day event, Homecoming open house).

Annual Renewals No Longer Needed

In a recent update, as of January 2022, Georgia Tech researchers are no longer required to submit annual renewals for their AUPs. This change, implemented by the USDA, aims to streamline the process while ensuring adherence to ethical standards. All AUPs will still expire three years after the approval date.

Ethical Principles

Georgia Tech endorses and promotes the ethical use of animals in research and instruction. As Russell and Burch describe, the principles of Refinement, Replacement, and Reduction are fundamental to this ethical use.

Visitor Policy

Visitors to Georgia Tech's research and teaching animal housing facilities must adhere to all Georgia Tech requirements, rules, and policies related to animal research and teaching. Visitors are not permitted to touch live animals and may only observe.