Policies and
Procedures
Section: Research
Policy Number: 6-X
Policy Name: The Use
of Animals in the Biomedical and Ecological Sciences
Date: 20 November 20032
I.
PURPOSE
To insure the humane care and use of vertebrate animals used
in research, teaching and testing at the
II.
POLICY
A.
University
Responsibility
The
Provost of the commit certify
on behalf of the University that the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act
(AWA; 7 U.S.C. 2131) and the University's Public Health Service (PHS) Animal
Assurance Statement (PHS Policy on the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, P.L.
99-158, Health Research Extension Act of 1985) are being met.
B.
Institutional
Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
The
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a federally mandated
committee implemented by University personnel which oversees the use of live,
non-human vertebrate animals in all biomedical and ecological research,
teaching and testing performed by University employees, or by users of the
University's animal facilities, or on University owned animals housed at
non-University operated sites. As a
federally mandated committee, University policy for committees is followed
unless it contradicts federal regulations, or is not in the best interest of
the University and its employees as determined by the IACUC, the Associate
Provost for Research and the Provost.
The
University requires that all projects using non-human vertebrate animals in
biomedical or ecological research, teaching and testing are reviewed and
approved by the IACUC, which is constituted according to the PHS Policy on the
Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
The composition of an IACUC must at minimum contain
include
a:
1.
Chairperson;
2.
Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine, with training or experience in laboratory animal science
and medicine, who has direct or delegated program responsibility for activities
involving animals at the research facility;
3.
Non-affiliated
public member to represent general community interests in the proper care and
use of animals. Public members are not
laboratory animal users, not affiliated with the institution, or members of the
immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution;
4.
Practicing
scientist experienced in research involving animals;
5.
Member whose
primary concerns are in a nonscientific area.; and
6.The committee may not consist of less than five members.
The responsibilities of the IACUC are to:
1.
Review all
requests for use of live non-human vertebrate animals for any activity at the
University as specified in the regulations and University policy. The IACUC is the only body, which may approve
a protocol for animal care and use.
Neither the Institutional Official, nor any other officer of the
University, may approve a protocol for animal care and use, which the IACUC
has not previously approved. The
committee is authorized by regulations to suspend or withhold approval of
any activity involving animals, which is not in accordance with Federalthe
regulations or University policy. In
addition, the Institutional Official or Provost of the University may prohibit
any protocol for animal use from being implemented.
2.
Conduct
semi-annual review of the University's program for humane care and use of
animals including an inspection of the animal facilities and all policies. A report of this review is submitted to the
Institutional Official.
3.
Review and
investigate all concerns involving the care and use of animals at the
University resulting from public complaints or reports of noncompliance by University personnel.
4.
Recommend
corrective action as required to the Institutional Official and to those whose
operation does not meet protocol guidelines.
C.
Principal
Investigator Responsibility
University
Investigators (hereafter referred to as the pPrincipal
iInvestigator;
PI) planning research projects, other than those with solely agricultural
applications, involving non-human vertebrate animals must complete and have
approved an Animal Care and Use Protocol.
The application must contain the following information:
·
The title of
the project and the PI’s name and contact information, including emergency
phone numbers.
·
Funding
sources.
·
Names of all
personnel who will be involved in the handling and use of the laboratory
animals.
·
Rationale and
purpose for the proposed use of animals.
·
Justification
for the species and number of animals requested. Whenever possible, the number
of animals requested should be justified statistically.
·
Availability
or appropriateness of alternatives; the use of less-invasive procedures, other
species, isolated organ preparation, cell or tissue culture, or computer
simulation.
·
Description of
the training and experience of personnel in the procedures used.
·
Unusual
housing and husbandry requirements.
·
Appropriate
sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia methods.
·
Evidence that
the proposed work is not unnecessary duplication of other experiments.
·
Description of
major operative procedures; if multiple major operative procedures are planned,
justification for these must be included.
·
Criteria and
process for timely intervention, removal of animals from study, or euthanasia
if painful or stressful outcomes are anticipated.
·
Description of
post-procedure care.
·
Methods for
euthanasia or disposition of animals.
·
Methods to
ensure safety within the working environment for personnel.
D.
Veterinary
Care
The
AttendingOffice of
Laboratory Animal Medicine (OLAM) Veterinarian is responsiblethe attending
veterinarian for animal care at all University facilities having
primary responsibility for the health and care of all animals housed on the
campus, all satellite facilities, and field projects. The Attending OLAM
Veterinarian also serves as a resource for individuals wishing to utilize live
animals in research, testing, and teaching. Consultation on tranquilizer,
analgesic, anesthetic and euthanasia agent selection is available. Training on
regulations and University policy, alternatives to the use of live animals, and
assistance in all animal handling, treatment and surgical procedures is also
available. A qualified laboratory animal veterinarian is available for
emergencies.
E.
Problem
Resolution
It
is the responsibility and charge of the PI, facility staff, AttendingOLAM
Veterinarian, and IACUC to assure the well-being and humane treatment of all
animals used for research, teaching and testing at the University. The AttendingOLAM
Veterinarian has authority to immediately stop any animal procedure when it is
viewed to be detrimental to the health and well-being of the animals involved
and/or was not specified in an approved protocol. Such issues must be reviewed
by the IACUC and resolved before the experiment will be allowed to continue.
F.
Personnel
Qualifications
1.
Animal Care
Personnel are required to participate in training programs provided
in-house. They are also encouraged to
participate in the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
training program.
2.
Students
employed to work in the facility shall must be trained
for the species for which they are responsible by reviewing reference material
provided and one-on-one training with senior laboratory animal technicians, the
facility coordinator and/or the attending veterinarian.
3.
Investigators
and Laboratory Assistants are responsible for providing humane and
scientifically acceptable practices.
Persons using laboratory animals must be qualified through specific
training or experience to perform anesthesia, surgery or other experimental
manipulations.
4.
Special
qualifications are needed for personnel using hazardous agents (see other
policies as they relate to the specific University Safety Committees).
G.
Personal
Hygiene
1.
Appropriate
protective clothing must be worn when handling animals or when opening or
cleaning cages.
2.
Eating,
drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, or applying contact lenses in an animal
care facility is prohibited.
3.
Training in
zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to humans), personal hygiene,
animal bites, allergies, reporting of illnesses and
suspected health hazards, and how to handle emergencies must be maintained
current.
H.
Issues or
Concerns Involving Animal Abuse
The
University holds to the policy of providing at all times the humane care
and treatment of animals used in biomedical and ecological research, teaching
and testing. Concerns or allegations of
misconduct or mistreatment should be directed to either the Office of
Laboratory Animal Medicine or the Office of the Associate Provost for
Research. These matters may be addressed
anonymously. All concerns or allegations
will be investigated. Violation of
animal welfare laws will be directed to the IACUC and appropriate University
Officials for further action.
For further
information, please refer to the following documents found in the Office of
Laboratory Animal Medicine, 056 McKinly Laboratory:
1.
The Use of
Animals in Biomedical Research Policy and Procedures Guide, OLAM, UDel.
2.
Occupational
Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, OLAM, UDel.
3.
Disaster
Planning and Action Guide, OLAM, UDel.
4.
Standard
Operating Procedures Guide, OLAM, UDel.
5.
Investigator’s
Guide to the Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical Research, OLAM, UDel.