The University of Scranton
Use of Animal Subjects in Research
Contents
Introduction
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Committee Roster and Meeting Schedule
Federal Registration
Annual Training Workshop, Videos, and Other Guidelines
Review of Proposals
Students and Animal Research
Training Policy
Federal Regulations
Useful Websites
Loyola Hall Animal Facility Procedures (pdf)
Forms
Animal Use Protocol Form (pdf) and (MS Word)
Protocol Status Form (pdf)
Protocol Renewal Form (pdf) and (MS Word)
Student Research Assistant Training Certification Form (pdf) and (MS Word)
Incident Report - Animal Facilities (pdf) and (MS Word)
IACUC Daily Log Form (pdf) and (MS Word)
Quarantined Animal Record (pdf)
Training Certification (pdf) and (MS Word)
Introduction
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 wellbeing 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.
Federal Registration
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).
Annual Training Workshop, Videos, and Other Guidelines
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:
Some Preferred Techniques for the Laboratory Mouse, CALAS/ACSAL (13 minutes)
Some Preferred Techniques for the Laboratory Rat, CALAS/ACSAL (24 minutes)
Some Preferred Techniques for the Laboratory Gerbil and Hamster, CALAS/ACSAL (20 minutes)
IACUC Review of Protocols
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.
Students and Animal Research
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:
1.
2.
3.
have read the animal research protocol
have watched the training videos on reserve at the library
will not perform animal research without direct supervision until they have been properly trained
This form must be co-signed by the faculty member and returned to the Office of Research Services. The form
may be attached to the original animal research protocol or sent separately, as necessary. Students must
complete a certification form for each research protocol they participate in.
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
Husbandry for the particular species involved in the protocol
Procedures, including surgical, to be performed on the animals
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
Federal Regulations
Animal Welfare Act
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/awapdf.pdf
USDA Animal Care Policy Manual
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/polmanpdf.html
Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm
Public Law 99-158, November 20, 1985 "Animals in Research"
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats
Useful Websites
NIH Office of Animal Laboratory Welfare
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/olaw.htm
Comprehensive website contains News Flashes and Archives, Policies and Laws
Guidance, General Information, List of Institutions holding Animal Welfare Assurances,
list of useful Links.
NIH Office of Animal Laboratory Welfare Tutorial
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/tutorial/index.htm
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
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac
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
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/
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)
http://www.avma.org
Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia
http://www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
http://www.aalas.org
AALAS advances responsible care and use of laboratory animals to benefit people and animals.
IACUC.ORG
http://www.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
http://www4.nas.edu/cls/ilarhome.nsf
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
http://www.scaw.com
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)
http://www.primr.org
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
http://www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics
This website contains a broad collage of annotated web links. The listed resources provide background
information and various positions on issues in bioethics.
Zoonoses
The following websites offer information on diseases (zoonoses) that can be contracted from animals by humans.
University of Pennsylvania: http://www.upenn.edu/regulatoryaffairs/animal/zoonoses.html
County Of Los Angeles - Department Of Health Services, Public Health Programs and Services - Disease Control
Programs
Veterinary Public Health and Rabies Control Manual - Overview of Zoonoses:
http://lapublichealth.org/vet/guides/vetzooman.htm
World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/health-topics/zoonoses.htm
Daniel Shapiro’s Zoonosis Web Page:
(Daniel S. Shapiro, M.D. is Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at Boston Medical Center, and
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Boston University School of
Medicine.)
http://medicine.bu.edu/dshapiro/zoo1.htm