IIUM ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (I-ACUC)

With the aggressive development of science, engineering and designing, moral issues frequently emerge. Ethics and ethical conduct have become a critical issue in the 21st Century. Scientists, technologists and engineers of all ages, students and senior professionals will encounter ethical challenges in their professional and personal lives.

Animal research has had a indispensable part in numerous scientific and medical advancement of the past century and continues to aid our understanding of various diseases and cure. However, animals in scientific and medical research has been a subject of heated debate between the Scientist and animal activist throughout the world.

In Malaysia, Animal Care and Use Committee follows the National Animal Welfare act 2015 which was approved by parliament in 2017. Therefore, any activity which involve animals should comply with Animal Welfare act 2015 especially in Research where Researcher must abide with Section 26 of Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772).

No responsible scientist wants to use animals or cause them unnecessary suffering if it can be avoided, and therefore scientists accept controls on the use of animals in research. More generally, the bioscience community accepts that animals should be used for research only within an ethical framework. This is where Animal Care and Use Committee comes in by providing independent review and guidance to the researchers within the applicable regulation in every country.