The University of Sydney
Animal Ethics Committee
Guideline Number GL002
Approving
Authority
USYD AEC
Approval Date 29 March 2012
Outline
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The University is committed to replace, refine and reduce the use of animals in teaching and research and the use of surplus tissue or cadavers can play an important part in achieving this goal. The
University therefore aims to maximise the benefits arising from the use of surplus tissue or cadavers to obtain materials and information that may support education and research initiatives.
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NOTE: The collection of tissue samples from live animals for research purposes requires formal approval from an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).
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The purpose of this procedure is to describe the permissible utilisation of biological specimens derived from the bodies of live and deceased animals. This procedure also applies to feathers, teeth, skin, slough, hair or other biological specimen that has naturally shed from a wild animal and collected for educational or scientific purposes (i.e. when there is no applicable Animal Ethics Committee obligation under the Animal Research Act), data associated with a physical examination of a deceased animal, or animal tissues collected at necropsy,

The supply of tissue from deceased animals is not subject to approval in the usual way by the
University’s Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) provided that: o The samples are collected from animals which are already dead, and o Either the animals were not killed for the purposes of teaching or research, or they were killed for teaching or research under a protocol approved by an Animal Ethics Committee and in a manner approved by that protocol.
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The AEC has established these procedures to provide clear advice to staff and the general public, to promote understanding and to protect staff and students of the University from the risk of inadvertent non-compliance with the “Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 2004”.
Regulatory requirements relating to the use of animal cadavers
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The University may be supplied with animal cadavers, or tissues obtained from animal cadavers, if they are from animals that have died as a result of procedures that are not related to teaching or research (e.g. animals slaughtered in abattoirs, road kill);
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The University must not under any circumstances attempt to influence the procedures used to kill animals unless approval has been granted by an Animal Ethics Committee ; this includes the selection of animals, the timing of death and all aspects of the methods used;
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The administration of any substance (including heparin) that is not directly or indirectly associated with the humane performance of euthanasia is prohibited at any time (prior to or concurrently with the euthanasia procedure) unless approved by an Animal Ethics Committee
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A licence is required for University staff to collect specimens emanating from protected species for scientific or educational purposes. Specimens of native animals are considered to be the property of the Crown under the management of NSW Environment and Heritage and a Licence for the purposes of science, education and conservation is required to be held by the researcher in accordance with the
National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974.
AEC guidelines for tissue samples and cadaver use.
Version 1; Last Reviewed 20 March 2012
Page 1 of 3

The University of Sydney Animal Ethics Committee Guidelines
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Staff that request specimens from wildlife that are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act are responsible for obtaining their own licence from NSW Environment and Heritage.
AEC Requirements
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Provided the animals are already deceased and were not killed for the purposes of research, there is no requirement to submit an AEC Application Form;
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However the AEC has adopted a higher level of ethical stringency and transparency and requires documentation and notification where animal cadavers and tissues are used.
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The staff or student member responsible for the tissue sample collection must supply the AEC with written correspondence (sample attached) which includes:
­ A description of the intended use of the cadavers or tissues obtained from cadavers;
­ A copy of correspondence from the University to the authority from which the tissue or cadavers are to be sourced setting out the proposed arrangements for obtaining the above material, and
­ A copy of correspondence from the same authority to the University confirming acceptance of the terms of any such arrangements.
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A new letter of agreement must be obtained each year.
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This policy only relates to the use of tissue samples and cadavers for investigative research or undergraduate teaching at the University of Sydney; proposals to use cadavers for other purposes such as postgraduate training must be submitted for approval by the AEC prior to commencement and in accordance with procedures as advised by the Ethics Office.
The University encourages researchers to donate cadaveric tissues and animal remains to Ethitex, an easy-touse database which promotes the reduction of animal usage through sharing of tissues.
AEC guidelines for tissue samples and cadaver use.
Version 1; Last Reviewed 20 March 2012
Page 2 of 3

The University of Sydney Animal Ethics Committee Guidelines
Sample letter to the AEC
Date:
Department:
Dear AEC Committee,
RE: Supply and use of tissues from cadavers for teaching or investigative research purposes
I would like to notify the AEC of our intention to use tissue samples acquired from cadavers for teaching and investigative research. Please find attached the written confirmation of arrangements between the University and the relevant authority.
The cadavers, or tissues from cadavers, will be used for [INSERT JUSTIFICATION].
Yours sincerely,
Supervisor of the course
Faculty
AEC guidelines for tissue samples and cadaver use.
Version 1; Last Reviewed 20 March 2012
Page 3 of 3