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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Collaboration requires mutual understanding

Lab Animal volume 45, pages 137–138 (2016)Cite this article

The live animal portion of the proposed study would occur at BeachFront University, so the IACUC of this institution should review and, if appropriate, approve the protocol. Meanwhile, Great Eastern University could seek a memorandum of understanding (MOU) from BeachFront University, since Great Eastern is receiving the tissues from BeachFront, where the naked mole rats are bred, housed and euthanized. As described in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, this MOU should detail which institution's IACUC is responsible for reviewing the protocol, overseeing the program, overseeing the animal care and use, and reporting the animals to the US Department of Agriculture in their annual report. Furthermore, the MOU could formalize the respective concerns of each IACUC and effectively outline and address each one such that the division of responsibility between the collaborating institutions is transparent.

The issues raised by members of the BeachFront IACUC regarding their lack of experience with research on interference RNA could be remedied by inviting one or more expert consultants who are familiar with this technology and its implications in cancer pathophysiology. Consultants would meet with the IACUC during protocol review to assist in reviewing any concerns, although they would not be able to approve or withhold approval of any activity, and they would not be allowed to vote unless they are also members of the IACUC1. In this way, a consultant could clarify for the IACUC the scientific relevance of this study and its justification of the species and number of animals required to provide the necessary tissue samples. Furthermore, the BeachFront IACUC could extend an invitation to Gold so that he may further explain the scientific relevance of this work and, if necessary, elaborate upon his research objectives.

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References

  1. Public Health Service. Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1986; amended 2002).

  2. United States Department of Agriculture. Animal Welfare Inspection Guide (US Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD, 2015).

  3. Animal Welfare Act regulations. 9 CFR. Chapter I, Subchapter A, Part 2, Subpart C, Section 2.31(d)(1)(viii).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shoulson is Chief of Quality Assurance and Training, and Echeverri, Herndon and Ordanes are Postdoctoral Fellows at the Institute of Comparative Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY.,

    Rivka L. Shoulson,  Catalina Echeverri,  Nicole Herndon &  Diane Ordanes

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  1. Rivka L. Shoulson
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  2. Catalina Echeverri
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  3. Nicole Herndon
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  4. Diane Ordanes
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Shoulson, R., Echeverri, C., Herndon, N. et al. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Collaboration requires mutual understanding. Lab Anim 45, 137–138 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.976

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