IACUC Applications
Deadlines for Submission of IACUC Applications
In general, the MSM IACUC meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday. PHS policy requires that applications for use of animals be reviewed by this committee and therefore investigators need to be aware of the deadlines for submitting their applications. This allows adequate time for the required veterinary consult and for any revisions to be made before it is submitted to IACUC members for review. Because of the requirement for IACUC committee review, applications will not be acted on as needed, but must be scheduled for the next IACUC meeting. Often IACUC requires revisions to the application before it is approved. Therefore, to ensure that approval is received to allow investigator鈥檚 to start new projects, to continue under a renewed application approval, or to get approval for modifications to the original application the following schedule needs to be followed:
- Submission of an electronic application (Word Document) for Veterinary Consult:
Three weeks prior to IACUC meeting date, an investigator that wishes to have an application reviewed, should send the application to the veterinarian, Dr. Katherine Spears-Paul (kspears-paul@msm.edu). In general, this will be the last Thursday of the previous month.
- Submission of electronic application (Word Document) for IACUC Review:
Two weeks prior to IACUC meeting date, revised applications (based on the veterinary consult) should be submitted to CLAR (mlewis@msm.edu) and IACUC Chair (wkirlin@msm.edu). In general, this will be the first Thursday of the month.
Although both the veterinarian and IACUC chair will work with investigators if these deadlines cannot be made, a request by investigators to do this should be the exception rather than the expectation of investigators.
The importance of adhering to these deadlines is to maintain compliance with PHS policy, AAALAC accreditation and federal regulations governing the use of experimental animals.
Biohazards Committee
All animal use protocols that involve the use of a biohazard must be approved by the appropriate institutional Biohazards Committee prior to submitting the protocol to the IACUC.
Submission Procedure
- Takes approximately one month
- Send application electronically
- Veterinarian will issue a Vet Consult (VC)
- You should revise your application based upon the suggestions of the vet
- A reviewer will be assigned to review the most recent revised version
- Investigator will be informed in writing of committee decision, i.e., Approved, Tabled or Disapproved
- Investigator informs IACUC chairperson or CLAR Office of the name and address of any person who should be informed of the committee's decision
- Investigator receives copy of any assurance letter sent by the chairperson of the IACUC.
Things to Keep in Mind When You Develop an Animal Use Protocol for Review by the IACUC
- The IACUC has to be able to review the scientific merits of your proposal and be able
to ensure that your animal use protocols are justified in light of the science.
- You must provide evidence of a recent literature search to ensure that your protocols
are not repetitive or redundant. Please indicate database and keyword(s) searched
and the results.
- You should justify
- using vertebrate animals rather than model systems
- the number of animals you plan to use and
- the species of animals you plan to use.
- The animal should be humanely treated at all times. If you think that you would need
an anesthetic or analgesic for this procedure, then so would an animal. USDA Policy
#12
- Follow the AVMA Euthanasia Guide (attached) if you have to euthanize an animal or
have the CLAR staff do it. Exceptions can be made to the AVMA approved methods, but
only if a valid scientific reason is given (e.g., guillotine a rat without prior anesthetic
or tranquilizing agent because these agents are known to affect the enzymes or hormones
under study).
- If you are unfamiliar with an animal species, procedure, or pharmacological agent,
contact the CLAR Office. CLAR houses a large amount of information on animal handling,
surgical and non-surgical procedures, anesthetics and other agents used in various
lab animal species. If the CLAR office cannot provide you with the necessary information,
the consulting veterinarian will be able to do so or will find an individual who can.
- The administration of your institution must be aware of, and have approved, any animal
use protocol submitted to the IACUC for approval.
- Remember, you are responsible for any staff or students participating in your animal
use protocol. Make sure individuals are adequately trained.
- Animals cannot be housed outside CLAR for more than 24 hours without prior written
approval.
- If you plan to use an unusual species or some specialized CLAR facility (e.g., barrier
facility) you should first contact the director of Operations of CLAR to ensure that
the facility can meet your needs.
- Approved protocols will be assigned a number which must accompany all animal orders.
- Animals must be purchased by CLAR from an approved list of suppliers to avoid introducing
infections into the facility. Where possible, use specific pathogen-free animals (SPF).
Before developing a budget, check with the CLAR Office for animal purchase prices
from approved suppliers.
- Prior to working with animals, all faculty, staff and students must complete an Animal Care and Use workshop (CLAR Orientation) and the LATA online training program tailored to the species to be used. It will also be necessary for investigators to update their skills and knowledge base from time to time as part of a continuing education program that will be offered by CLAR.