PRO-U4520.09 Addressing Animal Care and Use in Research and Instruction

Action By:

Vice Provost for Research

  1. Appoints members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Investigator

  1. Submits Research Protocol to Research Compliance Officer (RCO) including:
    • Research methods and procedures
    • Scientific rationale for the species and the number of animals as well as consideration of alternatives for animal use
    • An explanation that the investigator has considered alternatives to procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to the animals. Any procedure that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress must be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia, unless justified for scientific reasons in writing by the investigator and approved by the IACUC
    • A written narrative description of the methods and sources used to determine alternatives to animal use is not available
    • A written assurance that the research activities do not unnecessarily duplicate previous experiments
    • Esign signature of the Investigator, the Chair, and the faculty supervisor if the investigator is a student

      The protocol must be approved before animals may be acquired or research may begin.
       
  2. Submits plan (in protocol or standard operating procedure) explaining care for animals that complies with standards established by The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

RCO

  1. Reviews protocol for completeness of the application and compliance with all legal and policy information requirements. If not complete, sends protocol back to Investigator for revisions.
  2. Sends complete protocol to Attending Veterinarian (AV) and Animal Care and Use Committee Chair (Chair) for preliminary review.

AV and Chair

  1. Sends comments and requests for revisions to RCO.

RCO

  1. Sends request for revisions to Investigator.

Investigator

  1. Sends revised protocol to RCO.

RCO

  1. Sends complete protocol to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for review. RCO requests IACUC members whether any member requests full committee review.
  2. Sends protocol to two designated reviewers if no IACUC member requests full committee review.

Designated Reviewers

  1. Reviews protocol for compliance with Federal regulatory and Western Washington University policy, and The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
  2. Sends requests for revisions to the RCO.

RCO

  1. Sends requests for revisions to the Investigator.

Investigator

  1. Sends revisions to RCO.

RCO

  1. Sends revisions to two Designated Reviewers.

Designated Reviewers

  1. Reviews protocol and notify RCO if they approve the protocol. If both designated reviewers do not approve protocol, it goes to full review.

RCO

  1. Sends approval memo to Investigator if designated reviewers approve protocol.
  2. Schedules an IACUC meeting if any member of the IACUC requests a full committee review or designated reviewers do not approve protocol.

IACUC

  1. Sends changes to RCO that must be made to meet requirements protocol for compliance with Federal regulatory, Western Washington University policy, and The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

RCO

  1. Sends comments and revision requests to RCO if IACUC requests changes.

Investigator

  1. Sends revised protocol to RCO.

RCO

  1. Sends revised protocol to IACUC.

IACUC

  1. Meets and discusses protocol. Meeting must be synchronous and face-to-face or by video conference.
  2. Votes for approval, modification, or clarification of the protocol. Approval requires a majority of the quorum.

Procedure Information

Approved By:

Vice Provost, RSP

Effective Date:

June 9, 2022

Authority:

Related Forms

No forms apply to this procedure.

Procedure Contact

Research and Sponsored Programs

Phone: (360) 650-3220

Research and Sponsored Programs website