University Policy Details
Title: Animals in Research and Teaching, Use of
Author: Vice Provost for Research & GraduateEducation/IACUC
Effective Date: 03/13/2004
Applies To: Employees,Faculty,Students
Last Reviewed Date: 06/19/2008
Description: Use of Animals in Research and Teaching
For More Information Contact: Director, Office of Animal Research Services
Contact Telephone Number: 860-486-8882

 

Use of Animals in Research and Teaching

 

I. Purpose

The use of animals at UConn by faculty, staff and students is a privilege governed by federal regulations, local regulations, UConn policies and public perception. Failure to comply can lead to severe sanctions for both the faculty member and UConn.

II. Scope:

This policy applies to all faculty, employees and students at the Storrs and regional campuses where vertebrate animals are housed or used in research, teaching or testing.

III. Description of Requirements

Policy on research involving animals used at the University of Connecticut is governed by the following federal regulations and mandates.

1.      Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Public Health Policy).

 

For those institutions which receive funding from the Public Health Service (PHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), additional requirements must be met. Guidelines mandated by The Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-158) are incorporated in the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy, Appendix B, Section B.4, page 42). An example of the additional requirements set forth by the PHS Policy, as contrasted to the Animal Welfare Act, is that institutions must place on file in the NIH's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) an approved Animal Welfare Assurance statement detailing the institutions commitment to good animal care and use before they can receive PHS funds. The PHS Policy requires institutions to follow the recommendations of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals in order to be eligible to receive PHS funds to conduct activities involving animals.

2.      The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals serves as the standard where nonagricultural animals are used in teaching, research and testing.

3.      The Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching serves as a standard where agricultural animals are being used in agricultural research and teaching.

4.      United States Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm#USGovPrinciples ).

5.      Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Regulations and Standards (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A - Animal Welfare, on line at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/publications.html.)

Research and teaching activities that involve live vertebrate animals and are conducted at or sponsored by UConn must be in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Regulations and Standards. The AWA applies to all species of warm blooded vertebrate animals used for testing, research, or teaching, excluding horses not used for research, farm animals used for agricultural research, birds, rats of the genus Rattus and mice of the genus Mus bred for research. Considerations are under way by the USDA to include rats, mice and birds under the AWA.

The Animal Welfare Act is administered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is enforced through unannounced inspections by the USDA. During inspections, the USDA has the right to observe laboratory personnel in the performance of their duties and to take photographs of noncompliance with the regulations. Inspection reports are available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act.

The AWA states that the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for appointing the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The Chief Executive Officer of the University of Connecticut is the President.

The AWA requires each institution to identify an Institutional Official (IO) who is authorized to legally commit on behalf of the research facility. The Vice Provost for Research & Graduate Education (VPRGE) is the Institutional Official (IO) charged with the responsibility for ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the use and care of animals in research and teaching. The VPRGE delegates on-going oversight of the campus animal care and use program to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Office of Animal Research Services (OARS).

In addition, the Animal Welfare Act requires:

1)      Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The membership, responsibilities and authority of the IACUC are detailed in the Animal Welfare Act and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Pursuant to this federal legislation, the IACUC is authorized to establish policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance to applicable regulations and professional standards pertaining to the use and care of animals in research and teaching. The IACUC also conducts periodic and on-going evaluations of the animal care and use program. The IACUC has the authority to suspend any activity involving animals that is not being conducted within provisions of applicable regulations or campus policy.

2)      Office of Animal Research Services (OARS)

The OARS is an administrative unit under the Office of the VPRGE. This office is responsible for assuring that the care of animals used in research and teaching is professionally sound and that high standards of humane treatment of animals are observed. The OARS provides on-going oversight for the campus animal care and use program, provides supportive services such as training in the humane care and use of animals, and administers the institution's program of adequate veterinary care. The Director of OARS serves as the Attending Veterinarian (AV). The AV has authority to exercise duties required by the AWA, university policies, and professional standards to assure adequate veterinary care and ethical and humane use of animals used in research and teaching. The AV has authority to make independent emergency decisions concerning the treatment of animals experiencing unalleviated pain or suffering. These animals must be provided appropriate veterinary care or be humanely euthanized. Whenever possible, the investigator is consulted prior to initiating treatment or euthanasia. In all cases, however, the welfare of the animal will be the primary consideration.

3)      Principal Investigator (PI) Responsibilities

The privilege of using animals in research is subject to three Congressional Acts: the Health Research Extension Act (Public Law 99-158), the Food Security Act (Public Law 99-198), and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) [7 U.S.C. 2131-2156]. The AWA details requirements for the care and use of animals in research, testing and education. Violations by the PI of the Animal Welfare Act may result in:

  • Loss of privilege to use animals in research
  • Loss of federal funding to the entire University for animal research
  • Principal Investigator (PI) may be held personally responsible for professional misconduc
  • Criminal and civil penalties for the PI and/or Institution. It is a violation of federal regulations to carry out studies in animals without an approved protocol or to maintain animals after expiration of a previously approved protocol.