The University of Maryland Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for the review and approval of all proposed uses of live vertebrate animals in teaching and research. IACUC activities are mandated by the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and U.S. Public Health Service Policy.

The IACUC adheres to the belief that the development of knowledge necessary for the improvement of the health and well-being of humans as well as other animals requires in vivo experimentation with a wide variety of animal species. In particular, the IACUC observes the principles espoused in the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources' Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals:

• Procedures should be designed and performed on the basis of relevance to human or animal health, advancement of knowledge, and/or the good of society.
• The appropriate species, quality, and number of animals should be used.
• Discomfort, distress, and pain should be avoided or minimized in concert with sound science.
• Appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia should be used.
• Humane and experimental end points should be established.
• Appropriate animal husbandry should be directed and performed by qualified persons.
• Experimentation on living animals should only be conducted by or under the close supervision of qualified and experienced persons.

Currently, IACUC review applies officially only to vertebrate animals. However, it is assumed that invertebrate species will be handled with the same degree of care and concern.