Which agency approves the use of animals in research?

• A. IACUC
• B. FDA
• C. EPA
• D. CDC

Answer: (A)

Approval to use animals in research comes from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This committee, embedded in each research institution, reviews every proposed study involving vertebrate animals to ensure ethical and humane treatment. They assess whether the use of animals is scientifically justified, whether there are viable non-animal alternatives, and whether the number of animals is minimized. They also ensure that procedures minimize pain and distress through appropriate anesthesia, analgesia, and humane endpoints, and that housing, veterinary care, and ongoing welfare monitoring are in place. This process is required by laws and policy (like the Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service Policy) and happens before any animal work begins, with ongoing oversight during the study.

The other agencies—FDA, EPA, and CDC—play important regulatory roles in specific areas of research, such as product safety testing, environmental impact, or biosafety guidelines. They may review or require data from animal studies, but they do not grant the general approval to conduct animal research across institutions.