Animal Care and Use Protocol Review
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is responsible for reviewing and approving activities involving care and use of animals at Colorado State University. Descriptions of such activities are usually submitted an animal use protocol
form; however, other means of submission could be utilized. Submit completed protocol forms describing the proposed activities to the
Research Integrity and Compliance Review Office.
The submission deadline for protocols is noon on the second Tuesday of the month. The committee review date is the third Tuesday of the month. Investigators may be contacted prior to the meeting date for more information. Responding to these questions facilitates protocol review. The outcome of the deliberations is conveyed to the investigator in writing.
Procedures that may cause more than momentary pain or distress require consultation with the a laboratory animal veterinarian prior to review of the protocol by the IACUC. For ways to consult with a laboratory animal veterinarian click here.
Protocol review process
There are two mechanisms for protocol review: full committee or designated member review. Full committee review occurs at a convened meeting of the IACUC, with a quorum (majority) of the members present. Members who have a conflict of interest (e.g. involved in the study) can not contribute to the quorum. Committee members review the protocol and decide the outcome. Protocols can be approved outright, may require modifications to secure approval or approval may be withheld. In the designated review process: members are polled to decide whether the protocol should go to full committee review. If, after a pre-determined period, no member calls for full committee review the Chair appoints a suitably qualified reviewer(s) to review the protocol. The designated reviewer(s) can approve, require modifications to secure approval or refer the protocol to the full committee. Proposed changes to existing protocols (amendments) must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC before initiation.
The review process for proposed changes (amendments) is similar to that used for new protocol reviews. approval is good for three years after which a new (replacement) protocol must be submitted, reviewed and approved for the activities to continue.
Why review protocols?
The goal of the review is to assure the welfare of animals and safety of personnel. These goals are achieved by addressing the following critical issues: justification for the use of animals; appropriateness of the species, the highest quality and minimum number of animals are utilized; living conditions of the animals are appropriate for the species and contribute to their health and comfort; pain, distress or discomfort is avoided or minimized; appropriate use of sedation, analgesia and/or anesthesia for painful procedures; medical care for animals will be available and provided as necessary by a qualified veterinarian; aseptic techniques are used for survival surgical procedures; adequacy of training and experience of personnel in the procedures to be used; criteria and process for timely intervention, removal of animals from a study, or euthanasia (humane endpoints); method of euthanasia or final disposition; and safety of personnel.
Additional information will be required for special circumstances such as: multiple major survival surgery, use of paralytics, withholding food or water beyond that necessary for surgical preparation, prolonged use of physical restraint, use of materials (agents) that may be hazardous to personnel or environment; environmental conditions outside the normal range, decreased sanitation frequency or less than daily (decreased
frequency of) observation of animals by husbandry or care staff.
For additional information on the IACUC and protocol review
click here.
Last Updated March 17, 2010