Contribution of the Breadth and Depth of IACUC Membership to Experimental Design as a Factor in Research Reproducibility.

The IACUC comprises the key component of animal research oversight at any institution or facility and thus has the responsibility to review and approve proposed animal activities. As the primary oversight unit that ensures the quality of animal welfare and therefore contributes to overall research quality, the IACUC can support reproducibility in research by ensuring rigorous experimental design, standardization of care and management, and assessment of the validity of research. An IACUC that is constituted as required by the Animal Welfare Act and the PHS Policy incorporates a wide range of expertise. Here we explore the contributions of the various IACUC members and discuss how each can help to enhance rigor and mitigate issues regarding irreproducibility in biomedical research involving animals.