Graduate Studies and Research

Animal Care Center

Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee

The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) at the Lebanese American University (LAU) is responsible for reviewing and approving all research projects involving animal models at the LAU Animal Facility.

The primary mission of the IACUC is to ensure that all proposed research complies with established national and international ethical standards, including the core principles outlined by the relevant Lebanese Authorities as well as the United States National Institute of Health (NIH), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).

IACUC Meeting Dates & Deadlines for Submissions

Meeting dates are set upon need only

IACUC Membership Roster

As of April 2025

Member Name

Title and Affiliation

Term of Appointment

Member Designation

Sama Sleiman, PhD Associate Professor, School of Arts & Sciences

Chairperson, IACUC committee, LAU

December 2022 -present Scientific member Chairperson, IRB
Joseph Stephan, PhD Associate Professor, Gilbert & Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine

Director, IRB office, LAU

December 2022 -present Ad-Hoc member

Non-voting

Aniella Abi Gerges, PhD Associate Professor, Gilbert & Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, LAU December 2022 -present Scientific member
Elsy Ramia, PhD Clinical Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, LAU December 2022 -present Scientific member
Nadine Zeeni, PhD Associate Professor, School of Arts & Sciences, LAU  December 2022 -present Scientific member
Roy Kanbar, PhD Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, LAU December 2022 -present Scientific member
Rachelle Jelwan, PhD Veterinarian, Animal Facility, Graduate Studies & Research December 2022 -present Scientific member
Karmen Baroudy,  M.Sc., CIM IRB Lead Program Manager, IRB Office, LAU February 2012 - present Scientific, Non-voting member
 

Submission Requirements & Application Forms

1. Overall Requirements

All research involving animals under the jurisdiction of the Lebanese American University must be submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for review and approval prior to commencing the research.  It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator on an approved research protocol to ensure that approval status is maintained for the duration of the project. Any change to approved protocols must be approved by the IACUC chair/committee prior to implementation.

If a study involves extramural funding such as external funding agencies or sponsors, clearance must be secured from the relevant department at LAU before submission to the IACUC. 

IACUC Application Documents

Education & Training

All study personnel, including faculty, student and support staff involved in a research project must complete the online working with animals training.  

LAU is registered with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program.  You can access the relevant trainings through the CITI Home page.  Please click on “Register” and select Lebanese American University as your affiliated organization.  You can refer to the following Guidance documents to complete your registration.  If you are registered with CITI under a different organization, you can use the same log in information and add another affiliation under LAU.

NOTE: All animal work certifications are valid for 3 years. Please make sure you refresh the training if 3 years have passed since the date on your Certificate of Completion.

Links and References

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare

https://olaw.nih.gov/

PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition, Copyright 2011, NAS

https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/guide-care-use-lab-animals

Contact Us

IACUC email IACUC@lau.edu.lb

Karmen Baroudy, M.Sc., CIM
IRB Lead Program Manager
Email: karmen.baroudy@lau.edu.lb
Ext. 2546
IRB Office, 2nd floor Dorms A, room 704, Byblos Campus