Final answer:
Concerns about unresolved animal misuse after contacting a supervisor should be submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which ensures compliance with NIH guidelines and humane treatment of animals in research.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you encounter an unresolved issue of animal misuse after reporting it to your supervisor, you should submit your concerns to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines on the humane care and use of laboratory animals. This committee includes diverse members such as researchers, administrators, a veterinarian, and at least one community member with no affiliation to the institution, ensuring a broad perspective on animal welfare matters. Furthermore, the IACUC is responsible for conducting regular inspections and overseeing all protocol regarding animal research within their institution.
In the United States, the IACUC enforces regulations set forth by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. These provide a framework for the ethical treatment of animals and mandate the presence of an IACUC at any institution conducting federally-funded animal research.