What does ACRB mean in STATE & LOCAL

The Animal Care Review Board (ACRB) is an independent administrative body that reviews and evaluates research involving animals conducted at institutions regulated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The ACRB is responsible for ensuring that research involving animal models meets high standards of scientific integrity, humane care, and treatment.

The ACRB consists of representatives from the scientific and animal protection communities, including members from NIH-approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs), veterinarians, researchers, and ethicists.

The ACRB considers all aspects of proposed animal research projects before granting approval. This includes considering the potential risks to animals involved in research, determining if humane methods are being used in conducting experiments with animals, and assessing whether or not research goals can be met without sacrificing animal welfare.

Applicants must submit information about their proposed research protocol such as study plans and objectives, detailed descriptions of experimental methods to be used in the project, reports regarding previous studies conducted with this species or similar ones, results obtained from these studies, a description of how any potential pain or distress will be minimized during the course of the experiment, as well as an explanation outlining why animals are essential to this particular project.

No, there is no fee associated with submitting your application for review by the ACRB.

The length of time needed for completion depends on each individual case but generally takes around four weeks from submission to final decision making.

Once a decision has been reached by board members regarding your application you should receive notification within two weeks after submission.

Protocol updates must be submitted every 6 months following initial submission or whenever major changes have been made to your protocol during its duration.