The University of Scranton
Use of Animal Subjects
in Research
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Forms
The animal facilities and programs of the University of Scranton are operated in conformity with the, the Animal Welfare Act (CFR 1985), the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996), 1996 Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and other applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is charged with the responsibility to assure that no animals are used unnecessarily for research or instruction and that every effort is made to insure animal well-being and to minimize pain and distress. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)All research and instruction involving animal (nonhuman vertebrate) subjects is subject to review by the University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The University of Scranton's IACUC usually has 8 members, including a veterinarian, a community member, a non-scientist, and at least three individuals involved in animal research. The current chair of the IACUC is J. Timothy Cannon, Ph.D., Psychology Department, and the attending veterinarian is Keith Dorton, D.V.M., of the Scranton Animal Hospital.
The Unversity of Scranton has filed an
Animal
Welfare Assurance with the Public Health Service (PHS) Office of Laboratory
Animal Welfare (Assurance # A3122-01, Expires 06/30/07), and the Biology/Chemistry
Animal Facilities are registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) division of Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care (Registration
# 23-R-0133, Expires 8/7/05).
The IACUC holds annual animal care training workshops. The IACUC's collection of species-specific guidelines and other general animal care guidelines is housed in the Office of Research Services and is also available on several websites (see Useful Websites). Additionally, the IACUC keeps training and informational videotapes on permanent reserve at the Weinberg Memorial Library's Media Resources office:
Investigators intending to use animal subjects in research or for instructional purposes must submit a written description of the activities, using the IACUC's Animal Use Protocol form as a guideline. All IACUC forms are available at the Office of Research (ORS) Services in disk or hard copy. Ten copies of each animal use proposal should be submitted to the Office of Research Services and must be received at least two weeks prior to the expected date of ordering animals. The IACUC meets four times a year and reviews proposals by mail year-round, therefore proposals may be submitted at any time. Approved animal care and use protocols should be renewed each year. Prior to the expiration date of a protocol, the Office of Research Services will send the faculty investigator a Protocol Renewal Form, which the faculty member should complete and return to ORS by the expiration date. All students, undergraduate and graduate, must complete a Student Research Assistant Training Certification prior to their involvement in any animal research protocol. This form is available at the Office of Research Services By signing this form the student certifies that they:
Training in Techniques Required for a Protocol Re: IACUC Protocol Application, 2.6. Competency in techniques to be used in the protocol. Are you competent in the techniques involved in this proposal? If not, how will you acquire the necessary expertise? Policy The Principal Investigator maintains full responsibility for the protocol. However, in the circumstance where the investigator is not competent in the techniques for a particular proposal, documentation must be provided that adequate training will be provided for all persons working on the protocol, including student research assistants, if appropriate. Training is required, as applicable, in
In addition, procedures for assuring adequate supervision of those performing the techniques must be documented. Procedures The Principal Investigator is responsible for training and supervision when he/she indicates competency in the techniques. When the Principal Investigator is not competent in the techniques, University faculty/staff with the required expertise may provide the training and supervision through an arrangement with the Principal Investigator. ORS will maintain a current list of faculty/staff competencies in animal procedures. If University faculty/staff are not available, or not competent in the techniques required, the Principal Investigator will arrange for specific training. The training plan must be approved by the IACUC prior to approval of the protocol. Training resources include faculty at other institutions, veterinarians, veterinary training programs, and local industry. Costs associated with training for protocols will be paid by the Principal Investigator. An IACUC Protocol Technique Training Certification must be completed for each person performing any specialized procedures (husbandry or surgical) for each protocol. This form must be signed by the authorized person performing the training, the Principal Investigator, and the Animal Facilities Director. A copy is to be sent to the Office of Research Services. A list of persons authorized to perform procedures will be posted in Animal Facilities. (Note: This requirement is in addition to, not in lieu of, the IACUC Student Certification) Approved by IACUC: April 14, 2005 Animal Welfare Act
USDA Animal Care Policy Manual
Public Health Service Policy on Humane
Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Public Law 99-158, November 20, 1985
"Animals in Research"
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals
NIH Office of Animal Laboratory Welfare
Comprehensive website contains News Flashes
and Archives, Policies and Laws
NIH Office of Animal Laboratory Welfare
Tutorial A tutorial for new animal care and use committee members, institutional administrators, investigators, animal care personnel, veterinarians, or others who are interested in learning about the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. USDA Animal Care Home Page Animal Care's Mission: AC provides leadership in establishing acceptable standards of humane animal care and treatment and to monitor and achieve compliance with the Animal Welfare Act through inspections, education, and cooperative efforts. Animal Welfare Information Center Division of the USDA National Agricultural Library, providing information for improved animal care and use in research, teaching, and testing. The American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA) Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia
American Association for Laboratory
Animal Science (AALAS)
AALAS advances responsible care and use of
laboratory animals to benefit people and animals.
IACUC.ORG IACUC.ORG is an information resource for members and staff of institutional animal care and use committees. It is a link archive where online resources are organized by menus and submenus. Many who browse the Internet for IACUC resources may find it overwhelming to randomly sift through the enormity of Web sites and their online materials. IACUC.ORG was developed as an organizing tool to quickly point to a topic of interest, such as example protocol forms or disaster plans used by other institutions. IACUC.ORG is produced by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
The Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
(ILAR) prepares authoritative reports on subjects of importance to the
animal care and use community serves as a clearinghouse for information
about animal resources develops and makes available scientific and technical
information on laboratory animals and other biological research resources
to the scientific community, institutional animal care and use committees
(IACUCs), the federal government, science educators and students, and the
public.
Scientists Center for Animal Welfare
SCAW’s ongoing activities include providing
information about, for example, regulations and guidelines, ethical issues,
performance standards, protocol review, facility design, the relationship
between people and animals in a research setting, and alternative research
methods. SCAW organizes and conducts conferences and seminars that explore
scientific and ethical matters related to research activities and animal
well-being - these meetings are sponsored by SCAW and also in cooperation
with other national and regional organizations. SCAW also provides educational
information and materials to teachers and students on all levels who are
exploring these issues. SCAW’s publications are widely accepted.
Public Responsibility in Medicine and
Research (PRIM&R)
PRIM&R has been committed to the advancement
of strong research programs and to the consistent application of ethical
precepts in both medicine and research. Through national conferences and
published reports, it has addressed a broad range of issues in research,
clinical practice, ethics, and the law.
NIH Bioethics Resources on the Web
This website contains a broad collage of annotated
web links. The listed resources provide background information and various
positions on issues in bioethics.
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