Animal Care and Use Committee

POLICY ON THE HUMANE CARE AND USE

OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training
3. Approval of Educational Use of Vertebrate Animals in Ongoing Emporia State University Courses
4. Review of Research and Training Applications and Protocol
5. Final Reports and Extension Requests
6. Contact Information

A. Introduction

It is the policy of Emporia State University to comply with policies promulgated by the Public Health Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, of the United States Department of Agriculture in the care and use of laboratory animals. Policies of the federal agencies apply to the routine care and maintenance of animals and the use of animals in research. The university has entrusted the oversight of the institution's animal programs to its institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). The ACUC presents these policies and procedures to assist you in both preparing for and conducting research with vertebrate animals, either in the field or the laboratory.

The Emporia State University Animal Care and Use Committee (ESU-ACUC) will hold semiannual committee meetings the last week of September and the last week in March. Special meetings may be called by the chair for purposes of addressing concerns over protocols. Inspections of vertebrate animal facilities in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Psychology and Special Education, and any on campus facility to be used for housing and/or research of vertebrate animals, will be conducted immediately before or after each of the semiannual meetings.

Records and files of the ESU-ACUC will be maintained by the chair of the committee. "Application for Approval to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training" will be available in the offices of the Department of Biological Sciences (SH 174) and the Department of Psychology and Special Education (VH 327), as well as available at this ESU-ACUC web site: To download the "Application Form for Approval to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training" click here for PDF or WORD version.

B. Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training

The development of knowledge necessary for the improvement of the health and well-being of humans as well as other animals requires in vivo experimentation with a wide variety of animal species. Whenever any researcher develops a proposed research project involving the use of vertebrate animals, the following principles shall be considered, and whenever the research is conducted, the responsible institutional official shall ensure that the following principles are adhered to:

1. The transportation, care, and use of animals should be in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et. seq.; copy available in the offices of the Department of Biological Sciences, SH174, and the Department of Psychology and Special Education, VH327) and other applicable Federal laws, guidelines, and policies.

2. Procedures involving animals should be designed and performed with due consideration for their relevance to human or animal health, the advancement of knowledge, or the good of society.

3. The animals selected for a procedure should be an appropriate species and quality and the minimum number required to obtain valid results. Methods such as mathematical models, computer simulation, and in vitro biological systems should be considered.

4. Proper use of animals, including the avoidance or minimization of discomfort, distress, and pain, when consistent with sound scientific practices, is imperative. Unless the contrary is established, investigators should consider that procedures which cause pain or distress in human beings may cause pain or distress in other vertebrate animals.

5. Procedures with animals that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress should be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anaesthesia. Surgical or other painful procedures should not be performed on unanesthetized animals paralyzed by chemical agents.

6. Animals that would otherwise suffer severe or chronic pain or distress that cannot be relieved should be painlessly killed at the end of the procedure or, if appropriate, during the procedure.

7. The living conditions of animals should be appropriate for their species and contribute to their health and comfort. Normally, the housing, feeding, and care of all animals used for biomedical purposes must be directed by a scientist trained and experienced in proper care, handling, and use of the species or a veterinarian. In any case, medical care for animals will be available and provided as needed by a qualified veterinarian.

8. Investigators and other personnel shall be appropriately qualified and experienced for conducting procedures on living animals. Adequate arrangements shall be made for their in-service training, including the proper and humane care and use of laboratory animals.

9. Where exceptions are required in relation to the provisions of these principles, the decisions should not rest with the investigators directly concerned but should be made, with due regard to Principle 2, by the ESU-ACUC. Such exceptions should not be made solely for the purpose of teaching or demonstration.

C. Approval of Educational Use of Vertebrate Animals in Ongoing Emporia State Univeristy Courses

Formally scheduled Emporia State University courses, both on and off-campus, may require educational experiences involving use of vertebrate animals with the goal of developing skills in handling animals, designing experiments, conducting tests, collecting and preserving specimens, extracting parasites, measuring behaviors, etc.

The regular university instructor of the course must submit an "Application for Approval to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training" (click here for PDF or WORD version) protocol describing a general overview of the range of activities involving vertebrate animals in Section 5 of this application. Rationale should be included for both invasive and euthanasia techniques. Equipment to support the animal use should be part of the course facilities and included in the application. A syllabus of the course, including any statements concerning vertebrate animal use, should be attached. The instructor should confirm that he or she has the expertise/training/experience to supervise this level of animal care and use. The instructor should hold, maintain, and abide by any appropriate federal, state or local permits for the laboratory or field activities involved, and keep a copy of the approved protocol. Two or six copies (see Section D. 1. d.) should be delivered as with regular protocols. ACUC approval extends for the duration of the offering of this course pending annual ACUC review, except: 1) if an additional level of animal use is proposed, 2) a different instructor teaches the course, or 3) the ACUC requests a new application, in all cases requiring that a new protocol be submitted.

Animal use that can reasonably be anticipated to cause more than momentary pain IS NOT COVERED under this blanket class approval. Any classwork that can reasonably be anticipated to cause more than momentary pain requires a separate application, and each protocol will be considered for approval on a case-by-case basis.

D. Review of Research and Training Applications and Proposals

All applications and proposals of faculty and students for projects involving vertebrate animals shall be approved by the ACUC prior to the commencement of the project, except for routine projects undertaken in ongoing E.S.U. courses and for which "Approval of Educational Use of Vertebrate Animals in Ongoing E.S.U. Courses" has already been approved by the ACUC. Potential applicants should follow this dichotomous key:

1. Determining Level of Approval and Protocol Requirements

a. Study does not involve use of vertebrate animals.....NOT an ACUC issue,
NO PROTOCOL NEED BE SUBMITTED.
or
Study involves use of vertebrate animals.............................................................go to b

b. Off-campus study; does not utilize on-campus E.S.U. classrooms, laboratories, or animal facilities............................................................... go to c
or
Study utilizes on-campus E.S.U classrooms, laboratories, or animal facilities......go to d

c. Study is invasive, or uses chemicals or toxins, or is noninvasive but involves use of living animals in behavioral studies that may cause stress or pain.....................go to d
or
Study is non-invasive, and non-chemical, and does not subject animal to stressful or painful behavioral study...NOT an ACUC concern and NO PROTOCOL NEED BE SUBMITTED, but consult state, federal and local wildlife regulations and E.S.U.Natural Areas (available in the office of the Department of Biological Sciences, SH 174) regulations where appropriate.

d. Study is noninvasive, non-chemical, and does not subject animal to stressful or painful behavioral study...SUBMIT TWO COPIES OF PROTOCOL. Chairperson of ACUC may approve with or without consultation with faculty advisor or equivalent; ESU-ACUC number is assigned upon approval.
or
Study is invasive, or involves subjecting the animal to synthetic chemicals, or
involves subjecting the animal to stress or pain....SUBMIT SIX COPIES OF PROTOCOL. Chairperson of ACUC distributes the protocol to ACUC members; approval may be granted if no ACUC member expresses concerns within three weeks of protocol application. Approval is withheld if any ACUC member expresses concern and disapproval. The ACUC Chair may solicit and distribute further protocol information to ACUC members addressing concerns. If concern or disapproval continues to be expressed, the ACUC Chair may call an ACUC meeting (or e-mail vote with agreement of ACUC). Approval of a protocol requires a majority vote of ACUC. When approved, an ESU-ACUC number is assigned.

2. Protocol Procedures

a. Sources of Applications: The "Application for Approval to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training" is available in printed form from the Department of Psychology and Special Education office (VH 327) and the Department of Biological Sciences office (SH 174); the form is also available online (click here for PDF or WORD version) and can be printed from this site.

b. Regulations and Guidelines: Federal, state, and local animal use regulations (legal requirements) and professional society guidelines (advisory) are available in the respective departmental offices.

c. Protocol: A completed "Application for Approval to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training" is hereafter referred to as a "protocol".

d. Submission: Dependent upon the requirements noted above, either two copies or six copies of the protocol should be submitted to either the office of the Department of Biological Sciences (SH 174) or the Department of Psychology and Special Education (VH 327) during regular school hours. These departmental offices will deliver the protocols to the ACUC Chair. The date of this submission to the departmental offices should be the date appearing on the bottom of page 1 with the signature of the project director.

e. Tracking: The ACUC Chair assigns an ESU-PROTOCOL number based on the order of submission for tracking purposes. In the year 2002, the numbers will run ESU-PROTOCOL-02-001, ESU-PROTOCOL-02-002, etc.

f. Approval: The ACUC Chair informs the applicant in writing of the disposition of the application. If approved, the protocol number is converted to an ESU-ACUC number that parallels the above protocol numbers (e.g. ESU-ACUC-02-001, ESU-ACUC-02-002, etc.). A list of all applicants, disposition of their applications, and one copy of each protocol is kept on file by calendar year in the ACUC files in the posseion of the ACUC Chair, ad infinitum.

g. Acting Chair: The ACUC Chair may designate an acting Chair from the ACUC committee in cases when the Chair will be gone from ESU for a significant time period, and when the application under review involves his/her research or classroom activities.

*The ACUC is authorized to suspend an activity involving animals in accord with the specifications set forth in section D.3.

3. Review of Protocols
In order to approve protocols or proposed significant changes in ongoing activities, the ACUC shall conduct a review of those sections related to the care and use of animals and ascertain whether the proposed activities are in accord with this policy. In making this determination, the ACUC shall confirm that the activity will be conducted in accord with the Animal Welfare Act insofar as it applies to the activity, unless acceptable justification for a departure is presented. Further, the ACUC shall ascertain whether the activity conforms with the institution's assurance and meets the following requirements:

a. Procedures with animals will avoid or minimize discomfort, distress and pain to the animals, consistent with sound research design.

b. Procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to the animals will be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesic, or anesthesia, unless the procedure is justified for scientific reasons in writing by the investigator.

c. Animals that would otherwise experience severe or chronic pain or distress that cannot be relieved will be painlessly sacrificed at the end of the procedure or, if appropriate, during the procedure.

d. The living conditions of animals will be appropriate for their species and contribute to their health and comfort. The housing, feeding, and non-medical care of the animals will be directed by a veterinarian or other scientist trained and experienced in the proper care, handling, and use of the species being maintained or studied.

e. Medical care for animals will be available and provided as necessary by a qualified veterinarian.

f. Personnel conducting procedures on the species being maintained or studied will be appropriately qualified and trained in those procedures.

g. Methods of euthanasia used will be consistent with the recommendations of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia, unless a deviation is justified for scientific reasons in writing by the investigator.

4. Information Required in Applications Submitted to the ESU Animal Care and Use Committee
Submitted applications and proposals that involve the care and use of animals shall contain the following information:

a. Identification of the species and approximate number of animals to be used

b. Rationale for involving animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers to be used

c. A complete description of the proposed use of the animals

d. Assurance that discomfort and injury to animals will be limited to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically valuable research, and that analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs will be used where indicated and appropriate to minimize discomfort and pain to animals

e. A description of any euthanasia method or other disposal method(s) to be used

E. Final Reports and Extensions

Information Required Upon Completion of Research At Ending Date, Noncompletion, or Request for Extension

1. At the completion of the project, a report is to be provided to the ACUC on:

a. actual procedures used, which may be less than proposed

b. the number of animals actually used

c. the actual fate or disposition of the animals.

2. In cases where it is not possible to complete the project by the ending date in the approved protocol, a letter of request for extension should be submitted to the ACUC when the research needs to continue beyond the ending date, or a letter should be submitted explaining why the project will not be completed.

F. Contact Information

Emporia State University
Animal Care and Use Committee
ACUC Chairperson c/o

Department of Biological Sciences
Campus Box 50, 1200 Commercial Street, Emporia, KS 66801-5087, (620) 341-5311, Fax: (620) 341-5607
or
Department of Psychology and Special Education
Campus Box 31, 1200 Commercial Street, Emporia, KS 66801-5087, (620) 341-5317, Fax: (620) 341-5801

 

Last Updated May 1, 2007