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Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Submission Process
Initial Review


Submission Process & Protocol Review

Submission Process
Careful completion of the Animal Care and Use Proposal (ACUP) form is important. It assists the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in completing review of research involving animals, as required by law. You cannot conduct research involving animals at KUMC without an approved protocol. Should the need arise, the ACUP provides information needed to defend you and your research, providing your activities do not deviate from what is approved in the protocol. Unapproved deviation from state protocol activities could result in committee review and possible termination of your research. The following are key components and issues to be noted when completing the form.

  1. The ACUP is designed for new lines of research or for de novo reviews of existing protocols. Minor alterations to existing protocols such as procedural changes, new drugs or hazards should be described in an addendum. The ADDENDUM form can be accessed at the following website http://www2.kumc.edu/researchcompliance/iacucforms.htm.
  2. KU faculty and LAR professional staff may submit proposals. Proposals to support research of graduate students, residents, post-doctoral fellows must have a faculty member or LAR professional staff as principal investigator. The principal investigator is responsible for the conduct and compliance of the proposed research.
  3. Protocols have a life of three (3) years and are reviewed annually. The protocols expire after three (3) years and a de novo re-write is required at that time. Failure to submit the required de novo re-write WILL result in deactivation of the protocol.
  4. Use the LATEST FORM and complete the entire form, LEAVING NOTHING BLANK. Answers should be typewritten under the questions. Indicate "Not applicable" if you feel it unnecessary to answer a specific question.
  5. Be SUCCINCT and BRIEF in describing background and aims. Provide sufficient information to communicate to the committee (and the public) the area of research. Do not expound on intricate details of science here.
  6. Justify the number of animals requested carefully. Read the question prior to answering. The more organized and clear the answer, the less likely the committee is to place a contingency for this component. THE QUESTION OF JUSTIFYING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS REQUESTED IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY CITED DEFICIENCY ON PROTOCOL SUBMISSIONS.
  7. The departmental chair must acknowledge all research that is NOT PEER REVIEWED. The IACUC will review such protocols for scientific content.
  8. The PI must initial: Items 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 and the affirmations in Item 5.0 of the ACUP form.
  9. The IACUC meets on the third Tuesday of every month. DEADLINE for submission is at 3:00 p.m. the Wednesday, 13 days before the meeting.
  10. Deliver the original ACUP plus 15 copies to the Office of Compliance 1040 Wescoe and send an electronic version to IACUC@kumc.edu.

    Protocol Review

    Protocol review is based on a standard form approved by the IACUC (FORM: Animal Care and Use Proposal).

Protocol review shall include, but not be limited to, evaluation of the following criteria:

  • Rationale and purpose of the proposed use of animals.
  • Justification of the species and number of animals requested, the latter justified statistically, if possible.
  • Availability or appropriateness of the use of less-invasive procedures, other species, isolated organ preparations, cell or tissue culture, or computer simulation
  • Adequacy of training and experience of personnel named in the study for the procedures outlined
  • Housing, husbandry, or equipment requirements
  • Adequate use of sedation, anesthesia and/or analgesia
  • Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of experiments or previously published research
  • Conduct of multiple operative procedures
  • Criteria and process for timely intervention, removal of animals from a study, or euthanasia, if painful or stressful outcomes are anticipated
  • Post-operative care
  • Methods of euthanasia or animal disposition
  • Safety of the working environment for personnel.

Review of protocols requires a quorum of the committee (>50%).

Approval of protocols requires a simple majority of members present.

Approval may be granted with contingencies or protocol modifications that must be met and acknowledged prior to any initiation of study.

Committee operates on the principle that a protocol is not fully approved until conditions of approval are addressed.

Committee assigns to administration, Laboratory Animal Resources, the authority to deny the PI or his or her agents the privilege of ordering animals on a conditionally approved protocol since committee history has shown that PI's frequently will not address the concerns of the committee with this privilege.

Protocols may be tabled pending provision of further information by investigators.

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