Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC)

The Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC) meets monthly, or as needed, and is chaired by Dr. David Bodine (NHGRI). The Vice Chair is Dr. Mark Hoon (NIDCR). Committee members include:

• Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) Chairs from each Institute or Center (IC) that use animals in research
• Director, Office of Animal Care and Use (OACU)
• Representatives from the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS), Office of General Counsel (OGC), and the NIH Fellows Committee (FELCOM)
• A nonaffiliated member
• The ARAC Ombudsman, whose role is to review outside complaints and inter-Institute issues and also to minimize interruption in the conduct of research

NOTE: NIH Intramural Animal Program Directors attend meetings but are not members.

In addition to advising the Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) on the NIH Intramural Research Program’s (IRP’s) program for the humane care and use of animals, the ARAC supports the IRP's adherence to standards of the National Research Council's Institute of Laboratory Animal Research Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. ARAC also reviews IC and/or NIH-wide concerns involving the care and use of animals at NIH following investigation, deliberation, and resolution by the IC ACUCs. Further, ARAC drafts and recommends policies and guidelines concerning various practices and procedures in the intramural animal program to the Institutional Official (who is also the DDIR).

Please contact OACU (SecOACU@nih.gov) for the current ARAC membership.