IACUCs
Monitor Your Progress
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By signing your application, your institutional
official promises the federal government that your institution
will comply with all terms
and conditions of award, including those covering animal care
and use. Monitor your work closely. As PI,
you are accountable for all activities involving animals during
the project.
Your approved animal use protocol is a contract between you and your IACUC,
stipulating that your project will follow all institutional polices
and procedures. You must obtain IACUC approval before you
make any significant changes to the research, including the following.
- Study objectives.
- Non-survival to survival surgery.
- Species or number of animals.
- Invasiveness of a procedure.
- Use of anesthetics or analgesics.
- Methods of euthanasia.
- Change in PI.
The definition of a "significant change" varies from institution
to institution, so consult your IACUC for guidance. In a recent
policy shift, NIH allows IACUCs to classify personnel changes other
than PI as minor, provided the IACUC ensures that staff are trained
and qualified.
If you're planning to make a significant change to your project,
also contact your program
officer right away. The NIH
Grants Policy Statement requires grantees to obtain prior
approval from NIH for changes in scope.
For a list, see Some
Actions Require Our Approval in the NIH
Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.
You will also need to get a new IACUC approval every three years;
some IACUCs may require it sooner. Institutional officials and IACUCs
do not have authority to extend an IACUC approval beyond its expiration
date. Conducting research in the absence of a valid IACUC approval
constitutes noncompliance with PHS policy and it is reportable to OLAW.
Resources
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