Animal Use
Overview
The School of Medicine and Public Health received continued AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care) accreditation for its animal care program and facilities in March 2015. The pursuit of this accreditation demonstrates SMPH commitment to humane and ethical treatment of research animals. The SMPH re-accreditation site visit will occur in 2018.
Guidelines
The Animal Welfare Act mandates humane and ethical treatment of animals used in teaching and research, therefore, requirements for conducting animal research are extensive.
Research Animal Resources Center (RARC)
At UW–Madison, the Research Animal Resources Center (RARC) provides oversight and assistance in assuring compliance with all laws, regulations, and rules governing the care and use of laboratory animals.
Investigator Requirements
In order to ensure that animals are properly housed and cared for, RARC requires that investigator’s who wish to use live vertebrate animals in a project:
- Submit an Animal Protocol electronically in ARROW for review by the SMPH Animal Care and Use Committee. New protocols and renewals must be entered in ARROW. Amendments to protocols that originated in ARROW must continue to be submitted using ARROW. Amendments to a paper protocol can continue to be submitted via email until its renewal date.
- Ensure that lab/facility personnel complete the animal user orientation, other trainings may be necessary dependent upon species and research.
- Report adverse animal health or unexpected research outcomes to their program veterinarian immediately.
Submitting Protocols
An Animal Protocol is a concise description of an animal research project. It is also a contractual agreement between the Principal Investigator and the Animal Care and Use Committee that ensures that animals receive the highest standard of care.
Protocol Guidance and Submission/Electronic ARROW Form
- The protocol submission and application review processes were brought online in October 2014. The link to the electronic ARROW form and instructions from the RARC website: Protocol Oversight at UW–Madison. Go to Getting Started for procedures using ARROW. For additional information, visit the ARROW tips page.
- Amendments to a protocol not created in ARROW will continue to be reviewed via email until its renewal date. Submit administrative amendments via email to Diane Johnson, 265-3989, johnson@rarc.wisc.edu
- Amendments to ARROW protocols should be submitted in ARROW.
- Protocols are approved for a maximum of 3 years, and must be reviewed annually. Protocols for longer projects have a de novo review every 3 years.
- For additional information, visit the ARROW tips page.
Protocol Amendments
In certain situations, a protocol may need to be changed during the course of a project. There are two types of changes, or amendments, to protocols:
- Administrative amendments are needed when funding sources or lab personnel change.
- Scientific amendments are needed when the scope of work changes. Examples include changing or adding experimental procedures, changing drugs or dosages, increasing the number of animals, adding a new species of animal, etc. These amendments must be approved by the SMPH Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee before beginning the new work.
When an amendment is needed, follow the instructions included on the RARC website: Research Animal Resources and Compliance: Create an Amendment.
Training
Animal user training is provided through RARC. Visit the RARC Training Program website for additional information and assistance regarding training.
Training Required for All Animal Users
All lab personnel who handle live research animals (including the Investigator, animal care staff, research staff, and visiting guests) must complete these RARC training courses before working with animals:
- UW Animal Use Orientation Training
Note: Animal User Orientation must be retaken every five years. - Occupational Health Animal Safety Training
Note: after completing this course, participants must complete an Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire.
These courses are completed online, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A valid UW–Madison NetID is needed in order to access the courses.
Additional Training for Certain Personnel
Depending on the scope of the project, additional RARC courses, such as Lab Animal Surgery or species-specific training, may also be required. Once an Animal Protocol is approved, lab personnel and their PI’s are notified via email of additional training requirements.
Resources
UW–Madison Campus Resources
- All campus animal care and use policies: Complete list of animal policies that apply to all UW–Madison schools/colleges
- RARC animal protocol tips: Procedures for completing and submitting an animal protocol using ARROW
- RARC forms: Collection of all RARC forms, including protocol and wildlife waiver forms
- RARC training program: Course info and registration; access to online courses
- UW–Madison Animal Care and Use Committees: Info on structure/function of UW–Madison’s Animal Care and Use Committees
- UW–Madison program veterinarian contacts: List of lab animal veterinarians, by program (login required)
External Resources
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (AALAS): Professional organization for researchers and technicians involved in laboratory animal science
- AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) standards for animal euthanasia
- Animal Welfare Act: Full text of the act, legislative history and quick reference guides
- FASS Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching, 3rd ed.: Primary reference for meeting the needs of agricultural animals used in research and teaching, published by the Federation of Animal Science Societies
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Resource Site: Information resource for members and staff of institutional animal care and use committees
- ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th ed.: Guide published by the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) and adopted by OLAW and AAALAC
- NIH OLAW Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Policy and guide published by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
- NIH Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) Fact Sheet (PDF): Quick reference guide/checklist for completing an NIH Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS), from OLAW
- NIH Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) instructions: Complete instructions for completing the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) of an NIH grant proposal
Contacts
Protocol Submission and Compliance Questions
Holly McEntee
608-265-9241
mcentee@rarc.wisc.edu