Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. The IACUC is charged with making certain all research utilizing animals complies with the 3 R's (reduction, replacement, and refinement). 1. Protocols should also indicate the personnel in charge of postprocedural care and assessment and regular update of records, including on weekends, after hours, and holidays. Information typically included are the dates of approval and expiration, institution-specific identification numbers or tags, type of study, and title. Researchers may hear a lot about AAALAC accreditation at their institution. It is important to understand that AAALAC is a private nonprofit accrediting organization and has no regulatory authority. The protocol review process is complex, and the quality of the protocol being reviewed can make all the difference in the efficiency with which an IACUC can conduct a thorough and complete review. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Swapna Mohan, BG 38A RM B2N13Q13, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894. Monthly meetings are typically held the last Wednesday of the Month with the exception of November and December which are held the week prior to the university scheduled holidays. 1. Tel: 301-827-5016. A decision to withhold approval must occur at a convened IACUC meeting. Participates in animal studies described on a specific IACUC protocol. How can I … Establishing a culture of care, conscience, and responsibility: addressing the improvement of scientific discovery and animal welfare through science-based performance standards. Blood withdrawal (site, frequency, volume, methodology). Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Evaluate the University’s animal care and use program and make recommendations, Prepare and submit reports of the IACUC’s evaluations to University officials, regulatory bodies, and accreditation agencies. Approval. The Animal Welfare Regulations require the IACUC to do what two things regarding alternatives? ; Submit a new IACUC Protocol (or be added to an Approved Protocol). Other basic elements are described in detail below. PIs submit their protocol usually to the IACUC administrative office at their institution. If you need additional assistance, please contact the IACUC Manager at 225-578-9643 or send an email to IACUC@lsu.edu. Some of the aspects that the IACUC considers when reviewing field studies are applicable federal, state, and local regulations, permitting requirements, trapping methods, minimization of pain and distress, emergency euthanasia methods available, training of personnel performing these procedures, and whether the occupational health and safety program adequately addresses the risks associated with activities in the field.23,24, For research conducted by external groups such as a CRO, the institution’s IACUC is responsible for ensuring the humane care and use of animals in that project. This article, aimed primarily for researchers but also IACUC administrators, provides an overview of the IACUC protocol review and approval process, the criteria that the IACUC uses for evaluations, and the type of information that should be included in the various sections of the protocol form. Humane endpoints are not necessarily the same as experimental endpoints, as experimental endpoints are planned based on experimental and scientific needs, whereas humane endpoints recognize that some animals may need to be euthanized for ethical reasons prior to reaching their experimental endpoint. The principle of reduction will be addressed by providing justification for the number of animals proposed. What does the IACUC do? The IACUC’s policy to permit the use of animal organs or tissues from animals euthanized for other committee-approved projects does not violate the regulations of the AWA. The IACUC does not require the principal investigator to provide copies of permits (e.g., PA Game Commission, Bird Banding, US Fish and Wildlife Service) prior to approval. The IACUC does not have authority to extend approval beyond three years. In: Petrie WK, Wallace SL, eds. This review can result in the following. How do I start an IACUC Animal Use Protocol Submission? APHIS conducts unannounced site visits to inspect facilities how often? The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is mandated by federal law (PHS Policy IV.B 1-5 and AWAR §2.31 [c][1]) to review the Institution's animal facilities (including individual laboratories where animals are taken). IACUCs may require investigators to submit Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Institutional Biosafety Committee approval, results of pathogen profile, documentation of origin, and storage of the materials. In addition, many busy IACUCs use designated reviewer reviews and … An IACUC administrator works for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to develop, implement, and optimize each program and regulation that governs research activities involving animals. Justifying animal numbers based on how many experiments can be completed in a certain amount of time, rather than specific scientific goals, is generally not adequate. Should IACUC approval expire, all activities involving the … The IACUC may also ask for other information such as location of equipment, transport to and from the location, any effect on animal well-being, and how equipment is sanitized between cohorts. Organizations, NGOs, schools, universities, etc. UB's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) procedures and guidelines follow nationally established standards to ensure the university's animal research and education is ethical and compliant. procedures.” The IACUC office should be able to guide researchers to available resources at their institution. Positive reinforcement methods are preferred over negative reinforcement as motivators to perform and the latter requires clear justification. If an individual will be using live, vertebrate animals they MUST have animal user training. Additionally, the AWRs (9CFR, §2.31 (d)(1)(ii)) and the Guide require an assurance that animal activities do not unnecessarily duplicate previous studies and also a description of the measures used for search of alternatives to painful and distressful procedures. Minor changes (changes in personnel other than the PI, changes in funding, etc.) The overall precept of the 3Rs is that animal use in scientific research should be carried out only after exhaustively searching options for nonanimal alternatives. Research involving the use of biological materials in animal research subjects is usually subjected to additional review and approval procedures. Ensure that the principal investigator has considered alternatives to painful or distressing procedures, and review a written assurance that alternatives are not available. Review and approve all animal use in teaching and research prior to any work being done with animals. This review can result in the following. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide, This PDF is available to Subscribers Only. The IACUC has a key oversight role, including the review and approval of animal use activities, and inspection of animal facilities. Hollander M. Protocol processing: from submission to approval. US Government Principle II states that “procedures involving animals should be designed and performed with due consideration of their relevance to human or animal health, the advancement of knowledge, or the good of society.”3 Some IACUCs take into consideration whether scientific peer-review has already occurred (based on funding source) and may require additional internal review (eg, departmental chair approval) for those studies that have not received peer review. Is often performed during the administrative pre-review of the public Health Service policy IV.B.1-8 Health... 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