PROTOCOL NUMBER:

 

 

                                                        UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

                                                     PROTOCOL REVIEW FORM

                           INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE

 

 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:  The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) consists of scientists from several disciplines as well as non-scientists, members of the University community, and persons who have no other affiliation with the University than as members of the Committee.  The protocol should therefore be described in terms understandable by an audience of educated nonspecialists.  Please return the completed protocol to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, c/o Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, 443 Corbett Hall.  The form is due TWO weeks prior to a scheduled IACUC meeting.  The meeting dates are posted at:  http://orspdocs.umesp.maine.edu/Ethical/duedates.htm.  Protocols received late will be held until the next month’s meeting.  Please call Gayle Anderson at 1-1498 if you have questions.    

 

            The Principal Investigator or Instructor must justify the ethical costs of using live animals by demonstrating a reasonable expectation that such usage will contribute to the advancement of knowledge which may eventually benefit humankind and/or animals.  The Principal Investigator or Instructor must further demonstrate that he or she has applied the concepts of "alternatives" in designing the protocol.  The term “alternatives” includes three components:  replacement (using organisms that are phylogenetically lower, cell cultures, tissues from slaughter or autopsy, or nonanimal systems); reduction (in the number of animals used); and refinement (of design and methods to reduce pain and stress to animals used). 

 

 1.        Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator(s), or Instructor(s), with campus address, office phone, and lab phone of PI (NOTE:  The Principal Investigator or Instructor must be a faculty member or professional staff):

 

 

           

Title and number of course/Title of project: 

 

 

 

            Project/Course Start Date:

 

            Number of years project is planned to continue:  

            (IACUC approval is granted for three years)

 

            If this is a renewal application, please enter the exact project or course title and previous protocol code, if any.  Be sure to identify any changes from the previously approved protocol. 

 

 

Funding agency for project, if applicable.  Include title of proposal if different from this protocol.   

 

 

 


2.         Describe the research or teaching objectives (not procedures) that involve use of animals.  Explain these objectives in non-technical language.

 

 

3.         How will this use of animals contribute to the advancement of knowledge which may eventually benefit humankind and/or animals.

 

 

4.         Identify the species of animals to be used and number (for the entire project) of each species to be used.  Check http://orspdocs.umesp.maine.edu/Ethical/animalweb.htm for current guidelines for use of animals in research/teaching.   

 

 

5.         State the rationale for use of this/these species.  Address the issue of replacement by explaining why educational or research objectives cannot be met by the use of phylogenetically lower organisms, cell or tissue cultures, or nonanimal systems.  (Please note:  the IACUC does not consider "hands-on experience" to be in and of itself an adequate educational objective, unless the course serves students whose anticipated educational and professional futures will require the skills imparted through such hands-on experience.  If that is true in this instance, please describe the student population that typically enrolls in the course.)

 

 

 

6.         Justify the number of animals:

 

a.         Explain how the number of animals required for this proposal fits your study design.

 

 

b.         Give the rationale for the number in terms of the statistical methods to be used.  Address the issue of reduction by explaining why the proposed number is sufficient, but not excessive.  (A simple statement that the number proposed is required for statistical significance is not an adequate response.) 

 

 

7.         PROCEDURES

 

            The Committee does not wish to receive copies of research proposals or laboratory manuals.  The Principal Investigator or Instructor is asked to address succinctly the following questions, as applicable.  Special care should be taken to justify any procedures generally discouraged by the University's code of ethics and policy.

 

a.         Major categories of procedures.  Please check the appropriate box for each category. 

 

            Any “yes” responses must be described in sections b. (nonsurgical procedures) and/or c. (surgical procedures) that follow.  Please use the category heading (from 1-17 below) with the description of procedures. 

 

            Yes      No

 

                            1.         collection or capture

                            2.         kill and harvest tissue

                            3.         immunization for antibody production:  describe antigen, adjuvant used, route of immunization, method of obtaining blood.

                            4.         physiologic measurements

                            5.         dietary manipulations

                            6.         pharmacology/toxicology:  material used, route of administration, etc.

                            7.         behavior studies

                            8.         environmental stress, e.g., temperature, restraint, forced exercise

                            9.         irradiation:  type, facility to be used

                            10.        biohazardous materials, e.g., carcinogens, radioactive materials

                            11.        hazardous materials

                            12.        infectious agents (use of Class 2 or higher agents requires the approval of the University's Biosafety Committee)

                            13.        experimental trauma

                            14.        nonsurvival surgical procedure

                            15.        survival surgical procedure (animal is allowed to recover for any length of time)

                            16.        multiple major operative procedures from which animal is allowed to recover. 

                            17.        other.  Specify:

                       

 

b.         Nonsurgical Procedures:

 

Describe all nonsurgical manipulations or procedures, if any, involving the animal, e.g., drug administration, blood collection, diet change, collection, capture.  Specify the drug(s), dose, route of administration, or other methods used.  Specify duration of procedures.  If an adjuvant will be used, state the number of injection sites per dosage and the number of doses.

 

 

 

 

Will the animals be killed?  If so, what method of euthanasia will be used?  (Include dosages if applicable.)  See the 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia for assistance  (http://www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf).  If not, what final disposition of the animals is planned?

 

 

If euthanasia becomes necessary, due to unplanned injury or illness to the animal(s), how will it be accomplished (include dosages if applicable)?  See the 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia for assistance (http://www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf).

 

 

c.         Surgical Procedures:

 

Describe briefly any surgical procedures.  Describe the anaesthetic method, including all drugs, dosages, routes of administration, and supplementation schedules.  Describe the postsurgical monitoring and care procedures, and the method of euthanasia (if it becomes necessary due to unplanned injury or illness). 

 

 

Is animal allowed to recover for any length of time?    If so, how long will animal survive surgery?

 

 

If there is potential for discomfort or pain as a result of the procedures, describe their nature and duration.  Explain what will be done to relieve them, including drugs and dosages, nursing care, mechanical devices, etc.

 

 

d.         Search for Alternatives:  If the proposed procedures cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to the animal(s), federal regulations require that you search for alternatives.  The PI must provide a written narrative description (see NOTE below) of the sources used to determine that less painful alternatives are not available.  To fulfill this requirement, bibliographical searches may be performed through the Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) of the National Agriculture Library (http://www.nalusda.gov/awic/).

 

                        Will the proposed procedures cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to the animal(s)?

 

                                No.  (Examples of procedures for which this response is appropriate include observation of behavior under conditions of little or no distress, dietary manipulations, and injections or blood sampling by qualified personnel.)

 

        Yes.  (Examples of procedures for which this response is appropriate include survival surgery, nonsurvival surgery, electrofishing.)  The required narrative is attached.  NOTE:  When preparing the narrative, the instructions in the USDA policy MUST be followed.  For a description of this policy, see:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/policy/policy12.pdf.

 

 

8.         Animal Sources and Housing  

 

            a.         Please indicate source of animals.  Note:  The IACUC will approve animal purchases from a licensed pet store provided the researcher/instructor informs the pet store (in writing) that the purchased animals will be used for research/teaching. 

 

 

            b.         If the animals are caught in the wild, where and how will the animals be trapped?  How often will the traps be checked?  What other steps will be taken to protect the animals from exposure or other danger?  Indicate if Federal/State permits are required and whether they have been obtained.  If the animals will be brought to the campus, what precautions will be taken to prevent zoonotic diseases? 

 

 

c.         Where will the animals be housed?

 

 

            d.         Identify the room or facility in which the procedures will be conducted.

 

 

 

 9.        Person(s) who will handle animals (e.g., carry out the procedure(s), animal care, etc.).  If someone other than the PI is responsible for supervision of those handling animals, please list that person as well.

 

                        Name/Title

                                                                                   

 

10.        If animals will be housed, please list the name, phone number, and email of the person who should be contacted to accompany the IACUC during facility inspections:

 

 

 

11.        Have all personnel named above been certified by the IACUC for Responsible Care and Use of Animals? 

  Yes      No     A web-based tutorial for this certification is available at:  http://www.umaine.edu/iacuc.  (Note:  protocols will not be processed until all personnel have been certified.)


ASSURANCES FOR THE HUMANE CARE AND USE OF ANIMALS

 

As the Principal Investigator on this protocol, I assure that…

 

1)         I have provided an accurate description of the animal care and use protocol to be followed in the proposed project/course.

 

2)         the activities proposed do not unnecessarily duplicate previous experiments. 

 

3)         all individuals named in this application who are at risk will be registered in the Occupational Health and Safety Program. 

 

4)         all individuals performing animal procedures described in this application are technically competent and have been (or will be) properly trained in the procedures to ensure that no unnecessary pain or distress will be caused as a result of the procedures.  

 

5)         I will obtain approval from the IACUC before initiating any changes to this protocol.

 

6)         I am familiar with and will comply with the University of Maine’s Policies and Procedures for the Humane Care and Use of Animals, and I assume responsibility for compliance by all personnel involved with this protocol. 

 

7)         I have read and will follow the appropriate guidelines for the proposed species.

 

8)         if using laboratory animals, all personnel handling the animals have had a tetanus shot within the past ten years. 

 

9)         all applicable rules and regulations regarding radiation protection, biosafety, recombinant issues, hazardous chemicals, etc., have been addressed in the preparation of this application and the appropriate reviews have been initiated. 

 

10)       animals will be purchased only from licensed, reputable vendors.  If animals are purchased from a pet store, the pet store has been informed (in writing) that the animals will be used for research or teaching purposes.   

 

11)       I will maintain appropriate animal records (e.g., census, health, veterinary care, euthanasia, surgery, diagnostic, anesthesia, etc.)

 

12)       I will report at once to the IACUC any unanticipated harm to animals.

 

 

___________________________________________          _____________________

Signature of Principal Investigator/Instructor                      Date

 

I hereby confirm that I have read this protocol and my signature denotes departmental approval of this project.

 

 

___________________________________________          ______________________

Signature of Department Head/School Director                  Date


PROTOCOL NUMBER:

 

Course/Project Title:

 

PI:

 

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For Committee Use Only:      Date of IACUC Receipt:  __________ Date of IACUC Review: _____

 

Committee Action:

 

            _____  1.         Approved until ___________________

                                    Species and # of animals approved:  _________________________________

            _____  2.         Modifications required.  See attached statement.

            _____  3.         Disapproved.  See attached statement.

            _____  4.         Reviewed and determined not to fall under the Policies and Procedures for the Humane Care and Use of Animals (explanation) __________________________________________

 

                                    ______________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Full IACUC Review:  _________                                             Subcommittee Review:  ________

 

IACUC Signatures:

 

_______________________       _______________________       ______________________

 

_______________________       _______________________       ______________________

 

_______________________       _______________________       ______________________

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                June 2006