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General Information
All institutions and agencies that utilize live animals in teaching and research are expected to follow federal and state laws that regulate such use. All such institutions must form an IACUC to oversee animal use and to help ensure that animals are treated humanely (please refer to the Guidelines for Use of Animals in Teaching and Research for additional information). A number of federal laws and policies impact the use of animals in teaching and research. Most notably, the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Good Laboratory Practice Act dictate minimal standards of care. Additionally, several other laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the CITES convention, the Marine Mammal Conservation and Protection Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the California Fish and Game Commission (Title 14) also regulate the use of specific species of animals. Our IACUC conducts inspections of our animal-related facilities twice per year. The IACUC is also charged with reviewing and approving all protocols for the use of live animals in teaching or research. Additionally, our facilities and animal programs are inspected and reviewed twice per year by a USDA inspector. Prior to initiating a research project involving animals or incorporating animals in a teaching program, the responsible parties should review the laws that may regulate their work (note that individual students and their faculty advisors are held legally responsible for complying with these laws). The next stage of the process involves obtaining approval, and permits when necessary, from the appropriate governing bodies. Finally, the faculty member or student must submit a completed Section 5 protocol to the IACUC for in-house review. It is illegal to use animals for any purpose without first obtaining the necessary permits from federal and state agencies and without obtaining approval from the IACUC. The protocol application form used by HSU is relatively short and, if sufficient time has been spent planning the research, takes only a short time to complete. The form is updated at irregular intervals. To ensure that you are using the correct version of the form, please either download the form directly, or compare the revision number at the bottom of the last page of the form you're using with that on the section 5 protocol available on the web. You may find it helpful to read through the suggestions for completing the form. Please contact our University Veterinarian, Rick Brown, at 826-3320 (or by e-mail) if you have questions concerning the completion and submission of this form or with questions regarding this web page. Mechanisms for reporting problems Both the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service Policy require each institution to investigate all complaints about suspected animal abuse or non-compliance with the laws. It should be noted that any person (faculty, staff, or student) who reports an alleged violation is protected from retaliatory action by both State and Federal law. How to report problems or perceived deficiencies in the handling, care, or treatment of animals: Minor problems in husbandry should be reported to the respective facility supervisor. Any serious problems concerning animal care during the conduct of a research or teaching project should be reported to the Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (826-3256) and/or the Campus Veterinarian, Dr. Richard Brown (826-3320).
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For more information, contact: Dr. Richard Brown, HSU Veterinarian CNRS, Dean's Office |