Rice University Research Policy No. 314-90

 

CARE AND HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH, TESTING, AND EDUCATION

References:

(a) Animal Welfare Act - Public Law 89-544 as amended (P.L. 91-579, P.L. 94-279, P.L. 99-198)
(b) U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training (1985)
(c) Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions (Revised as of September 1986)
(d) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 85-23, Revised 1985)

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this policy is to delineate Rice University's program for the care and use of live warm blooded vertebrate animals in research and teaching. All research and teaching activities involving such animals must have advanced written approval from the Rice University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

MONITORING, CARE AND USE OF ANIMALS

1. Administrative Responsibility - The Director, Office of Sponsored Research is the University Official responsible for administering this program.

2. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

a. The IACUC is appointed by the President.

b. The IACUC will consist of not fewer than five members, including the following in accordance with reference (c):

(1) one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, with training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine, who has direct or delegated program responsibility for activities involving animals at the institution;

(2) one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals;

(3) one member whose primary concerns are in a non-scientific area (e.g., ethicist, lawyer, member of the clergy); and

(4) one individual who is not affiliated with the institution in any way other than as a member of the IACUC; this person must not be a member of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution.

c. As an agent of Rice University, the IACUC shall do the following, as a minimum:

(1) review at least once every six months the institution's program for humane care and use of animals, using the Guide (ref. d) 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;

(3) prepare reports, including any minority views, of the IACUC evaluations conducted as required by a. and b. above. These reports shall be reviewed and signed by a majority of IACUC members before being submitted to the University President. The reports shall be maintained by the institution and made available to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and to officials of sponsoring Federal agencies upon request. The reports must contain a description of the nature and extent of the institution's adherence to the Guide and Public Health Service (PHS) policy, identify specifically any departures from provisions of the Guide and PHS policy, and state the reasons for each departure. The reports must distinguish significant deficiencies from minor deficiencies. A significant deficiency is one which is inconsistent with PHS policy and, in the judgment of the IACUC and the Institutional Official, is (or may be) a threat to the health or safety of the animals. If program or facility deficiencies are noted, the reports must contain a reasonable and specific plan and schedule for correcting each deficiency. Significant deficiencies not corrected as scheduled shall be reported in writing within 15 business days to APHIS and to any Federal sponsoring agency. The IACUC may, at its discretion, determine the best means for conducting an evaluation of the institution's programs and facilities. While IACUC may invite ad hoc consultants to assist in conducting the evaluation, the IACUC remains responsible for the evaluation and report;

(4) review concerns involving the care and use of animals at the institution;

(5) make recommendations to the University President regarding any aspect of the institution's animal program, facilities, or personnel training;

(6) review and approve, require modifications to (to secure approval), or withhold approval of (i) those components of proposed activities related to the care and use of animals as specified in IV.C. of the PHS Policy (ref. c), or (ii) proposed significant changes regarding the use of animals in ongoing activities;

(7) suspend an activity that it previously approved if it determines that the activity is not being conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of the Animal Welfare Act, the Guide, the institution's Assurance, or IV.C.1.a-g. of the PHS Policy (ref. c); and

(8) notify principal investigators in writing of its decision to approve, require modifications to, or withhold approval (with justification for its decision) of those activities related to the care and use of animals. The principal investigators shall be given an opportunity to respond in writing (and in person if requested) to disapproved activities. The IACUC may reconsider its decision in light of information provided by the investigator.

NOTE: The President, in consultation with the IACUC, shall review any suspension recommended by the IACUC and ensure that corrective action is taken. A report of the action taken with full explanation shall be made to APHIS and to the sponsoring Federal agency.

VETERINARY CARE

Regular and continuing counsel, advice, and services to Rice University concerning the care and use of animals for research and teaching will be provided on a contract basis by an attending veterinarian whose duties include the following:

1. serve as a member of the IACUC;

2. make physical inspections of the Animal Care Facility on a weekly basis to assure adequate veterinary care;

3. examine animals to evaluate their health upon receipt and during their use;

4. be available for emergencies;

5. advise investigators and teachers regarding the care and use of animals; and

6. provide such other services as arranged through the Director, Office of Sponsored Research.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

1. Animal Care Personnel

a. Staff personnel are expected to participate in training programs made available through the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) and other organizations as available. Further, membership in the Houston Metro AALAS should be maintained.

b. Students employed to work in the facility shall be required to familiarize themselves with the species for which they are responsible by reviewing reference materials provided.

2. Faculty Investigators and Laboratory Assistants

It is the responsibility of each faculty member under whose cognizance animals are used for research or teaching to insure that persons performing anesthesia, surgery, or other experimental manipulations are qualified through training or experience to accomplish these tasks in a humane and scientifically acceptable manner.

3. Special Qualifications for Personnel Using Hazardous Agents

Persons using hazardous biological, chemical, or physical agents must understand the dangers associated with the agents involved and the safeguards that should be instituted before initiating such work.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

1. Protective clothing shall be worn when handling animals or when invading or cleaning cages.

2. Eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics in the animal care facility when working on animals is prohibited.

AN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR PERSONNEL WHO WORK IN THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY OR HAVE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH ANIMALS SHOULD INCLUDE:

1. physical examinations upon employment and annually;

2. immunization against tetanus maintained current;

3. tuberculosis test annually for high risk employees, especially persons working with birds;

4. training in zoonoses, personal hygiene, animal bites, allergies, reporting of illnesses and suspected health hazards, and how to handle emergencies; this training must be maintained current.

ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION INVOLVING HAZARDOUS AGENTS

1. Research involving biological hazards must be reviewed and approved by the University Biosafety Committee as well as the IACUC.

2. Principal Investigators using chemical or physical agents must insure that the dangers are properly assessed and that adequate safeguards are in place before initiating such work.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Physical Restraint

a. Restraint chairs or similar devices must not be used simply as a convenience to investigators in handling or managing animals. When such devices are used, their use must be specifically approved by the IACUC.

b. Restraint chairs or similar devices are not to be considered "normal" methods of housing, although they may be required for specific research objectives.

c. Animals to be placed in restraint equipment should be conditioned to such equipment prior to initiation of the research.

d. The period of restraint should be the minimum required to accomplish the research objectives. Prolonged restraint for any reason must be approved by the IACUC.

e. Attention must be paid to the possible development of lesions or illnesses associated with restraint, including contusions, decubital ulcers, dependent edema, and weight loss. If these or other problems occur, veterinary care must be provided to treat the animal, which if necessary must be temporarily or permanently removed from the restraint device.

2. Multiple major surgical procedures may not be carried out without specific, written approval of the IACUC.

Policy No. 314-90
May 4, 1990

December 2, 1985
Revised March 16, 1987
Revised May 4, 1990