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Details necessary for IACUC assessment?

Lab Animal volume 47, pages 113–114 (2018)Cite this article

Although the animals under this study are privately-owned, there is no distinction in terms of regulations between the PHS Policy1 and the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (AWAR)2 when compared to animals owned by the institution. As such, pets used in research must be covered under an IACUC-approved protocol. Additionally, given that this study is PHS-funded, all applicable IACUC approval is required for research activities. This includes endorsement of the “U.S. Government Principles”3, compliance (where applicable) with the Animal Welfare Act, and requires institutions to use the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide)4 for the basis of assessment and development of institutional policies.

It is important to note that the question of appropriate training and qualifications of Dr. McCrae, correctly, do not appear to be a topic of disagreement for the IACUC. The Academy of Surgical Research’s “Guideline for Training in Surgical Research with Animals”5, which is referenced in the Guide, states that “Veterinarians who are certified or trained in laboratory animal medicine, surgery, or anesthesia should be considered competent in their field and should not require additional training.” However, the point of debate between the IACUC and the PI concerns the provision of detailed surgical procedures and perioperative procedures and monitoring to the IACUC for review.

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References

  1. Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, National Institutes of Health. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals IV.C.1. (US Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, 2015).

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  2. US Department of Agriculture. Animal Welfare Act and Regulations. Code of Federal Regulations. Title 9.

  3. Research Animal Committee. U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training II. (Office of Science and Technology Policy, Washington, DC, 1985).

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  4. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th edn. (National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2011).

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  5. Academy of Surgical Research. Guidelines for Training in Surgical Research with Animals. J Invest Surg 22, 218–225 (2009).

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  6. National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. FAQ D.14, May standard operating procedures (SOPs) or blanket protocols that cover a number of procedures be utilized in lieu of repeating descriptions of identical procedures in multiple protocols? http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm. [retrieved 3/2/2018]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory Animal Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc, Frederick, MD, USA

    Gillian Braden

  2. Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    Michael Esmail

Authors
  1. Gillian Braden
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  2. Michael Esmail
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Correspondence to Gillian Braden.

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Braden, G., Esmail, M. Details necessary for IACUC assessment?. Lab Anim 47, 113–114 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-018-0045-4

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