A. The lines of authority and responsibility for
administering the program and ensuring compliance with this Policy
are:
1. The Provost appoints the Institutional Animal
Care and Use Committee (IACUC) annually. The IACUC reports directly
to the Grants Officer, who is the Dean of Graduate Studies and
Research (Graduate Dean) of the university. The Grants Officer
reports directly to the Provost.
2. Principal Investigators are required to submit
all grant applications for research using laboratory animals
to the IACUC for review for compliance with university and Public
Health Service rules and policies.
3. The IACUC reviews each application for research
using laboratory animals and prepares a report of that review
outlining the position taken on the application. The report
of the review by the IACUC is forwarded to the Grants Officer/Graduate
Dean, who then forwards the report to the Provost.
4. The IACUC inspects laboratory animal facilities
every six months and forwards the report of the inspection to
the Grants Officer/Graduate Dean, who forwards the report to
the Provost.
5. The Grants Officer/Graduate Dean reports directly
to the Provost. The Grants Officer/Graduate Dean receives reports
of the reviews and reports of inspection of laboratory animal
facilities and submits all such review and reports directly
to the Provost.
6. Further, the results of the research using
animals in laboratory facilities are reported to the appropriate
department chair, to the Grants Officer/Graduate Dean, to the
IACUC, and to the dean of the appropriate school. The Grants
Officer/Graduate Dean submit all such reports of results of
research using animals in laboratory facilities to the Provost
(see attached chart).
B. The qualifications, authority, and percent of
time contributed by veterinarian(s) who will participate in the
program are:
1. Dr. Steven Mosier (DVM) or one of his associates
is the final authority regarding animal welfare. All animals
are observed daily for any sign of illness. Any indication of
infectious disease, tumor growth or questionable death are referred
to the veterinarian for treatment or necropsy. Any procedure
requiring anesthesia or analgesia is conducted following consultation
with the veterinarian. Euthanasia procedures will be modified,
when necessary, based on the recommendations by the veterinarian.
C. This institution has established and Institutional
Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is qualified through
the experience and expertise of its members to oversee the institution's
animal program, facilities, and procedures. The IACUC consists
of at least five members, and its membership meets the compositional
requirements set forth in the PHS Policy at IV.A.3.b. and USDA
Policy at 2.31.(3). Attached is a list of the names, position
titles, earned degrees and other credentials of the IACUC chairperson
and members.
D. The IACUC will:
1. Review at least once every six months the Institution's
program for humane care and use of animals, using the Guide
as a basis for evaluation.
2. Inspect at least once every six months all
of the institution's animal facilities (including satellite
facilities) using the Guide as a basis for evaluation
and submit a semiannual report of the inspection to the Grants
Officer.
3. Prepare reports of the IACUC evaluations as
set forth in the PHS Policy at IV.B.3. and submit the reports
to the University Grants Officer.
4. Review concerns involving the care and use
of animals at the institution.
5. Make written recommendations to the University
Grants Officer regarding any aspect of the institution's animal
program, facilities, or personnel training.
6. Review and approve, require modifications in
(to secure approval) or withhold approval of those activities
related to the care and use of animals as set forth in the PHS
Policy at IV.C.
7. Review and approve, require modifications in
(to secure approval) or withhold approval of those activities
as set forth in the PHS Policy at IV.C.
8. Notify investigators and the institution in
writing of its decision to approve or withhold approval of those
activities related to the care and use of animals, or modifications
required to secure IACUC approval as set forth in the PHS Policy
at IV.C.4.
9. Be authorized to suspend an activity involving
animals as set forth in the PHS Policy at IV.C.6.
E. The procedures which the IACUC will follow to
fulfill the requirements set forth in the PHS Policy at IV.B.
are as follows.
1. The IACUC will:
a. review all proposals to be submitted for
Public Health Service funding and any proposal for other types
of funding when such proposals involve research using vertebrate
animals.
b. meet (a) as needed to review research proposals
that fall under the purview of the IACUC, (b) as needed to
comply with Public Health Service Policy about meetings to
evaluate facilities, (c) at least once a year to prepare an
annual report as specified below; and (d) meet once every
six months for the semiannual review and report.
c. review on an annual basis any research program
using animals:
d. inspect every six months laboratory facilities
at Fort Hays State University which house research animals;
e. use the "Guide for the Care and Use
of Laboratory Animals" (HHS, NIH Pub. No. 85-23, 1985
edition or succeeding revised editions) for the basis of each
review;
f. prepare an annual report that will contain
a description of the nature and extent of the institution's
adherence to the Guide and to Public Health Service
and the Institution's Policy on the care and use of laboratory
animals;
g. submit all reports and copies of all committee
minutes to the Provost and the University Grants Officer.
2. The review and approval or disapproval of each
application by the IACUC will be focused on those sections of
the application or proposal that relate to the care and use
of animals. No funds are to be expended by a researcher until
the IACUC has (a) reviewed and (b) approved the animal care
and use provision of the application.
3. In order to maintain required records, the
IACUC will do the following:
a. The committee will elect a secretary for
the purpose of recording the minutes of each meeting. The
secretary will keep the minutes of the meetings and submit
copies of the minutes to the Provost and the Grants Officer
of the University. A copy of the minutes of each meeting will
be retained for the files of the IACUC.
b. The minutes must include (a) the names of
those in attendance, (b) the activities of the committee,
and (c) the committee deliberations.
c. The IACUC will maintain records of applications
submitted for review, proposed changes in the care and use
of animals, and the decision on changes in the care and use
of animals.
d. The committee will prepare an annual report
on the research facility and the personnel associated with
the facility. Both majority and minority views are to be included.
e. The official repository of the IACUC records
will be the office of the University Grants Officer.
f. Records of the IACUC must be maintained for
three years, with records being maintained for three years
after an approved activity is completed.
g. An annual report, when required, will be
submitted to the Office for Protection from Research Risks
(OPRR) of the National Institutes of Health through the Provost.
h. A quorum will be present for conducting business
when a majority of the IACUC is in attendance.
F. Review of Research and Training Application and
Proposals
All applications and proposals of faculty and students
projects involving vertebrate animals shall be approved by the
IACUC prior to the commencement of the project.
1. Procedures for the review of application and
proposals.
a. Six copies of the completed "Application
for the Approval to Use Vertebrate Animals" (form attached)
should be submitted to the chair of the IACUC no later than
two weeks prior to the anticipated starting date of a research
or training project.
b. The IACUC will conduct a review of those
sections of the application related to the care and use of
animals and ascertain whether the proposed activities are
in accord with the specifications listed in section F.2 below.
c. The chair of the IACUC shall notify the applicant
in writing of the decision to approve or withhold approval
of those sections related to the care and use of animals or
of modifications required to secure IACUC approval.
2. Review of PHS Applications and Proposals
In order to approve applications and proposals
or proposed significant changes in ongoing activities, the
IACUC 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 IACUC shall confirm that the activity will
be conducted in accord with the Animal Welfare Act insofar
as it applies to the activity and that the activity is consistent
with the Guide unless acceptable justification for
a departure is presented. Further, the IACUC 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, stress 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 nonmedical 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.
3. Information Required in Applications Submitted
to External Funding Agencies, e.g., PHS.
Applications and proposals submitted to external
funding agencies 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; and
e. a description of any euthanasia method to
be used.
G. The individual(s) authorized by this institution
to verify IACUC approval of those sections of applications and
proposals related to the care and use of animals is the University
Grants Officer.
H. The health program for personnel who work in
laboratory animal facilities or have frequent contact with animals
is:
With regard to occupational health programs, all
individuals must have received a tetanus inoculation within
seven years and maintain a seven-year minimum update of the
inoculation. All accidents are reported to the laboratory supervisor
and documented in the laboratory journal. The supervisor has
the responsibility for reporting any accident to the proper
authorities.
I. The total gross number of square feet in each
animal facility (including each satellite facility), the species
of animals housed therein and the average daily inventory, by
species, of animals in each facility:
The animal facility consists of 390 sq. feet housing
an average of 120, lab reared albino rats.
J. The training or instruction available to scientists,
animal technicians, and other personnel involved in animal care,
treatment, or use are:
All faculty involved in research using animals
have attained the Ph.D. degree and have experience working with
laboratory animals. This work has always been under the supervision
of certified veterinarians who have provided instruction in
the humane care and use of laboratory animals including periodic
physical examinations.
Students are under direct supervision of the faculty.
All students involved in animal research are required to read
"Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of
Animals" (APA, 1985) and sign a statement indicating that
they have read this document and will abide by its guidelines.
