Which organization must review and approve the use of animals in research?

• A. IACUC
• B. IRB
• C. NIH
• D. WHO

Answer: (A)

The main concept is that animal research must be overseen and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This body is responsible for reviewing proposed studies before work starts to ensure animals are used only when necessary and in ways that minimize pain and distress. It looks at the scientific justification for using animals, whether alternatives have been considered, how many animals will be used, and how they will be cared for, housed, and monitored. It also checks that personnel are properly trained and that veterinary care and humane endpoints are planned. After approval, the IACUC continues to monitor compliance through ongoing oversight and annual reviews.

The other options don’t perform this specific, structured review for animal use: an IRB focuses on protections for human participants, NIH is a funding and policy body rather than a protocol-review committee for animals, and WHO is an international public health organization that does not review individual institutional animal-use protocols.