APPLICATION TO USE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH, TESTING, OR  INSTRUCTION

University policy and federal law require a review of projects for humane treatment and judicious use of vertebrate animals.  At Lake Superior State University, adherence to this policy and federal law is assured by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) through review of the Application to Use Vertebrate Animals in Research, Testing, or Instruction (AUVA).  In fulfilling its responsibility to ensure the judicious use of animals, the IACUC  also  reviews applications for scientific or instructional merit.

Projects Requiring Review

Principal investigators and course directors must obtain approval from the IACUC before initiating any research, testing, or, instructional project involving the use of vertebrate animals. Failure to do so is a violation of federal law.  The following types of animal use do not require IACUC review:


•   Invertebrate animals
•   Whole dead animals not regulated by the USDA  (e.g. ectothermic vertebrates, birds, rats (Rattus sp. only) , and mice (Mus sp. only))
•   Animal tissues, fluids, internal organs, eggs, embryos, fetuses, etc. obtained as a standard commercial product or as a byproduct of another IACUC-approved research project
•   Non-intrusive field research (observation only, no manipulation of the animal or its environment).

If you are uncertain whether an IACUC review is required for your project, please contact the IACUC for a determination.

The Application Review Process

Applications are reviewed once each academic semester.  Completed applications should be submitted to the IACUC.  An application number will be assigned.  After an administrative review, applications are forwarded to members of the IACUC for a formal review.  Principal investigators will be contacted by the IACUC  by telephone or in writing to resolve any issues of concern to the IACUC members.  After all issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of a majority of the IACUC, approval is granted.  Following approval, an approval package will be sent to the principal investigator.  The approval package will contain the approval letter, a final annotated copy of the approved application, and other pertinent information.  The contents of the approval package must be provided to all personnel involved in the research project because the information in it bears on the animal use activities of each member of the research team.   IACUC approved projects are termed "activated" and will receive an Approval Number (a modification of the Application Number).  This Approval Number must be referenced on animal care and use documents and may be requested by outside inspectors.

Approval Period and Annual Review

IACUC approval is valid for a maximum of three years for faculty research projects or instructional activities.  Each year, principal investigators will be sent and are required to complete, sign, and return a brief Annual Review Form.  Completion of this form is required for compliance with the regulations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act.  Failure to return the Annual Review Form is a violation of federal law. and will lead to inactivation of IACUC approval to use animals.  The approval period for undergraduate research projects is limited to one year (undergraduate projects are eligible for renewal).  

Modifying Approved Applications

Prior to making significant changes in animal research activities, investigators must receive approval of the proposed changes from the IACUC.  Changes involving animal use will usually require IACUC review.  These changes should be described in a written narrative.  The name of the principal investigator, current Application/Approval Number, and title of the project must be referenced in the narrative.  Principal investigators should be sure to describe all aspects in which the change may alter their approved protocol.  This is best accomplished by reviewing the currently approved application, and addressing each question affected.  For example, a request for additional numbers of animals (Question 13), also necessitates a revised justification of animal numbers (Question 16). A request for a new species (Question 1), also necessitates justification of the new species (Question 15) , justification of animal numbers (Question 16) , and possibly changes in anesthetics (Question 7-9) , euthanasia methods (Questions 10) , and animal use procedures (Questions 11).  A modification to an approved application undergoes the same review process as do new or renewal applications. Investigators should allow 2 - 3 weeks for review of modifications by the IACUC.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The application must be typed or neatly printed.  Applications with ineligible responses will be returned without review.  The application is available as a printed copy and in Microsoft Word for Windows and WordPerfect for Windows formats.  Answers to questions in the application should be formatted in bold type for the benefit of the reviewers. In addition, you should use a font other than Times New Roman for your answers (Arial is recommended).  Complete the application in its entirety. Additional space or pages may be added to accommodate the answer to any question. Repaginate word-processed documents or clearly indicate the order of any other added or inserted pages. Abbreviations must  be clearly spelled out and/or defined upon first use.  Applicants may find that they will be asked to provide brief answers regarding issues which they have discussed in detail in another part of the form.  Please answer each question as stated. and do not simply refer to another answer elsewhere in the application.  

Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Applicants should be aware that approved applications may be obtained through the Michigan FOIA. Applications should be written in a manner which will allow them to sustain public scrutiny.  Avoid unnecessary use of inflammatory descriptive language.  For example, when discussing euthanasia, use the word "euthanize" and avoid the use of the words "sacrifice" and "kill".  Where practical, include sufficient detail and explanations to address anticipated questions and concerns from the general public.

Unacceptable Applications

Reasons why applications may not be accepted by the IACUC for review include, but are not limited to:


•   Ineligible or incomplete applications
•   Use of an obsolete form
•   Unanswered questions
•   Principal investigator is not affiliated with LSSU
•   Use of technical language that a non-scientist might not understand in answering Questions 3, 4, and 5
•   Inadequate description of animal use procedures in Question 11
•   A single composite answer to questions with multiple subparts
•   Missing signatures

Download an application here Download application instructions here
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(MS Word version) (MS Word version)
(WordPerfect version) (WordPerfect version)