We are in the process of rewriting our policy and procedures manuals for
IACUC .  In the past, the meetings have been closed members have had to
sign a confidentiality agreement.  Our Vice-President has asked that the
meetings be open meetings except when the protocol to be reviewed contains
confidential or proprietary information.  There are several published
references which support this idea, especially since many of the protocols
must now be made available under a FOIA request.  However, the present
Chair and a couple of "veteran" members feel that it is inappropriate to
have open meetings.  Their objections are that its much easier to conduct a
closed meeting and industrial sponsors won't fund projects if the IACUC
deliberations are open to the public, i.e., the sponsor will automatically
feel that closing the meeting while reviewing confidential/propriatary
projects isn't sufficient protection of their "industrial secrets."

I would like to know:  1) if your institution's IACUC(s) meetings are open
meetings, 2) how long they have been open, and 3) whether or not your
industrial sponsorship has decreased as a result of open meetings.

Thanks in advance for any information you can give.

Rosemary
Rosemary Ruff                                           307 Samford Hall
Associate Director                                              Auburn University, AL  36849
Office of Review and Compliance                         Phone (334) 844-5978
Auburn University                                               Fax (334) 844-4391

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