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Institutional Animal Care Program

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC)

The mission of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is to assure the well-being and proper care of all vertebrate animals used for research and educational purposes at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and to serve the public by ensuring institutional compliance with all legal and ethical standards regarding the use of animals in research. In addition, the IACUC is engaged in assisting animal research investigators with their animal-related needs. Please refer to the important dates and deadlines drop-down menu below for specific dates of meetings and submission deadlines or click HERE to see the meeting schedule.

Submission Deadlines & Meeting Dates

Fiscal Year 2021

The Meetings for FY2021 are scheduled for the SECOND FRIDAY of each month, starting at 1:00 PM.
– Prior to submission, schedule a Veterinarian (UV) consult/pre-review LARC@utsa.edu
– Submit completed IACUC applications (New/Renewal, Amendments and/or Annual Progress Report (APR) with UV consult/pre-review (no UV consult/pre-review is required for APR submission,no later than deadline date of scheduled meeting. This will give all members of the committee adequate time to conduct thorough evaluations of each submission.
– Submit to IACUC@utsa.edu by 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline. For assistance please contact the IACUC office at (210) 458-7733

Application Deadline Date IACUC Meeting Date
August 27, 2020 September 11, 2020
September 24, 2020 October 9, 2020
October 26, 2020 November 13, 2020
November 23, 2020 December 11, 2020
December 19, 2020 January 8, 2021
January 25, 2021 February 12, 2021
February 22, 2021 March 12, 2021
March 22, 2021 April 9, 2021
April 26, 2021 May 14, 2021
May 24, 2021 June 11, 2021
June 21, 2021 July 9, 2021
July 26, 2021 August 13, 2021

NOTE: It is essential to submit protocols by the deadline in order to give all members of the committee adequate time to do thorough evaluations of each protocol.

Submit completed New/Renewal Applications, Amendments and/or Annual Progress Reports written on the MS Word forms found on the IACUC website electronically to IACUC@utsa.edu by 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline. For assistance please contact the IACUC office at (210) 458-7733.

The Semi-Annual Animal Facilities Inspections and Program Evaluation will be conducted in September/October 2020 and March/April 2021. The Facilities Inspections will include all laboratories where animals undergo procedures to include satellite labs.

Forms

filetype-word IACUC New or 3 Year Renewal Application 2016 (DOC)
filetype-word Appendix A: Hybridomas and Ascites (DOC)
filetype-word Appendix B: Generation of Transgenic Animals (DOC)
filetype-word Annual Progress Report (for USDA covered species only) (DOC)
Amendment Documents
filetype-word IACUC Addition of Personnel (DOC)
filetype-word IACUC Protocol Amendment (2017) (DOC)
filetype-word PART VII – Infectious Agents, Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acids, Drugs, Compounds, Chemicals or Radioactive Materials (DOC)
filetype-word PART IX – Collection of Body Fluids and Tissues from Living Animals (DOC)
filetype-word PART X – Antibody Production for Diagnostic Tests (Rabbits and Rodents) (DOC)
filetype-word PART XI – Management of Non-Surgical Pain and Distress (DOC)
filetype-word PART XII – Surgery Major or Minor (DOC)
filetype-word PART XIII – Breeding of Research Animals (DOC)
filetype-word PART XIV – Permits and Authorizations – Field Studies (DOC)
Other Documents
filetype-pdf Definitions and Examples of USDA Pain Categories – Consolidated (PDF)
filetype-pdf Example of a Lay Description (PDF)
filetype-pdf Example Table for Justifying Animal Number Requested (PDF)
filetype-word UTSA Lab Inspection Form (DOC)
filetype-word Request to Photograph or Videotape Animals or Animal Facilities (DOC)
filetype-pdf Survival Rodent Surgery Checklist (PDF)

Policies

external-link-list 10.11 Use of Animals in Research, Teaching, Testing, or Public Exhibitions
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 001 Revision 2 Approved 12-14-18: Quality Animal Care and Policy Noncompliance at UTSA (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 002 Revision 3 Approved 12-14-18: Tail Biopsy of Mice and Rats (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 003 – (Revision 2 Approved 12-14-18) Humane Endpoints (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 004 – (Revision 5 Approved 09-14-18) Rodent Survival Surgery (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 005 – (Revision 3 Approved 01-11-19) Veterinary Care (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 006 Approved 02-14-14: Designated Member Review (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 007 – (Revision 1 Approved 01-11-19) Use of CFA and other adjuvants (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 008 Approved 08-14-20: Rodent, Rabbit, Bird, Fish & Amphibian Euthanasia (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 009 – (Revision 1 Approved 01-16-15) Expired Medical Materials at UTSA (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 010 – (Revision 1 Approved 05-08-15) Waste Management Plan for Animal Research (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 011- (Revision 4 Approved 5-13-16) Protocol and Amendment Review and Approval (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 012 – (Revision 2 Approved 02-07-19) Scoring and Endpoints in Tumor Studies in Rats and Mice (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 013 – (Revision 2; reviewed-no changes 2-14-20) Overcrowded Mouse Rat Cage Policy (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 014 – (Revision 2 Approved 02-08-19) Animal Enrichment (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 015 – (Revision 2 Approved 4-12-19) Use of Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Compounds – Expired Medical Materials (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 016 – (Revision 2 Approved 12-07-20) Counting Fetal and Neonatal Rodents (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 017 – (Reviewed with no changes, Approved 12-11-15) Transplantable Cell Lines in Rodents (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 018 Revision 1 Approved 05-12-17: Photography of Animal Use Procedures (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 019 Revision 2 Approved 03-08-19: Conflicts of Interest for IACUC Purposes (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 020 – (Revision 3 Approved 2-14-20) Isoflurane Waste Anesthetic Gas Policy (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 021 – (Revision 2 Approved 01-10-20) Acclimation-Stabilization of Animals (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 022 Revision 2 Approved 10-09-20: Physical Restraint of Unanesthetized Research Animals (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 023 – (Revision 1 Approved 1-15-16) Acclimation Stabilizationof Newly-Received Research Animals (PDF)
filetype-pdf IACP Policy 024 – (Revision 1 Approved 02-08-19) Research Animal Adoption (PDF)
IACP Policy 025 – (Revision 1 Approved 01-15-16) Placement of Feed on Cage Bottoms (PDF)
IACP Policy 026 – (Approved 11-18-16) Use of Urethane (PDF)
IACP Policy 027 – (Approved 5-10-19) Use of Tribromoethanol (PDF)

Animal User Training

aaalac

“Creating a solid foundation for good science with humane animal care”

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at UTSA requires all individuals engaged in animal-based research to complete the UTSA Animal User Training Program. This training requirement is in accordance with the policies and guidelines set forth in the “Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”; the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”; the USDA Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations; and UTSA policies.

UTSA enjoys AAALAC International accreditation, that is recognized around the world as the “Gold Standard” of animal care and use.

The IACUC, in partnership with the Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC), is pleased to offer this training program to investigators and research staff to promote safe, humane handling of animals as well as teach the latest techniques that are often required in experimental studies.

Animal Training Requirements

Please click HERE to review the UTSA Animal User Training Program Requirements Checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the FAQ document (PDF)

AALAS Login

Welcome to the UTSA AALAS Learning Library Sign On page!

With the purchase of the AALAS Auto Data Services, UTSA now offers its faculty, staff, and students the ability to log onto the AALAS Learning Library using their UTSA network accounts (in the format of “abc123”).

 

Use the below login if you have a UTSA Network ID (abc123)

Login for UTSA Faculty, Students, & Staff


 

If you are not affiliated with UTSA, but took AALAS training courses with UTSA in the past, please log on using your existing AALAS user name and password.

If you are not affiliated with UTSA, and this is going to be your first time taking AALAS training courses with us, you need to register with the Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Help Desk first. Once you finish your registration, the eRA Help Desk will contact you to provide you with the login information for your new AALAS account with UTSA.

 

Use the below login if you are NOT affiliated with UTSA

 

User Name:
Password:

Forget your user name or password?

Need Assistance?

If you have technical difficulties with this system, please contact:
Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Help Desk
vprhelp@utsa.edu
210-458-7805

IACUC Protocol Processing Flowchart

A) Submit completed UTSA protocol application form(s) electronically to the IACUC Office on or before the applicable submission deadline. Print off signature page, sign it and send that to “IACUC/Yolanda Acosta” through campus mail.

B) Application is placed on Agenda for next meeting and distributed to IACUC for Full Committee Review.

C) Chair assigns Primary Reviewer to present for discussion by committee at regular meeting on 2nd Friday of each month.

D) Possible outcomes of IACUC review are reflected in the Score assigned to the application:
1 = Approved as written
2 = Tabled Pending Modifications and Re-review by Chairman
3 = Tabled Pending Modifications and Re-review by IACUC at next convened meeting
4 = Declined (Disapproved)

E) Decision Notification. With a Score of 2, 3 or 4, the protocol application is returned to PI with written notification of the concerns of the committee.

F) Time required for subsequent actions/approval is heavily dependant upon the actions taken by the PI. A Score of “2” means that the revised application needs only to be re-reviewed by the Chairman (and any other IACUC member who either specifically requests to be involved in the re-review or is asked by the Chairman to participate). That re-review can be done as soon the PI revises the application in light of the Decision Notification. If an application receives a Score of “3”, there are more substantive concerns with it, and the committee has voted to have the revision re-reviewed by the Full Committee at the meeting for which the submission of the revision meets the submission deadline. Clearly, the PI has the larger role in determining how long it takes to get his/her application approved.

G) Under certain limited circumstances, application can be reviewed by Expedited Review. Contact the IACUC office (iacuc@utsa.edu, (210) 458-7733) for information. This procedure imposes an added burden to the committee members, so it is used sparingly and only when justified. Only the Chairman can approve the use of this procedure.

Regulatory Requirements and Guidelines

external-link-list Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), NIH
external-link-list Animal Welfare Act Regulations, USDA
external-link-list Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, ILAR
external-link-list Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
external-link-list OSHA Standards on Blood Borne Pathogens
external-link-list OSHA Standards on Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
external-link-list Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals
external-link-list Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)
filetype-pdf Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research (PDF)
external-link-list Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals
filetype-pdf IACUC Guidebook (PDF)
external-link-list Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals
external-link-list AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia
filetype-pdf AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (PDF)
filetype-pdf UTSA IACUC Mouse Dosage Formulary by UV – IACUC APPROVED for Admin Rev of Amendments (PDF)
filetype-pdf UTSA IACUC Rabbit Dosage Formulary by UV – IACUC APPROVED for Admin Rev of Amendments (PDF)
filetype-pdf UTSA IACUC Rat Dosage Formulary by UV – IACUC APPROVED for Admin Rev of Amendments (PDF)

FAQs

Why must we have an IACUC? All institutions that use vertebrate animals for research, teaching, research training and biological testing are required to create an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to oversee and evaluate all aspects of the institution’s animal care and use program. The IACUC is a self-regulating body mandated by two Federal agencies and the regulations and policies they are charged with enforcing: 1.) the Animal Welfare Act and its amendments, which are administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and 2.) the Health Research Extension Act and its amendments, which are administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).

Who sits on the IACUC?The IACUC must be comprised of a minimum of five members including a veterinarian with special knowledge of laboratory animal medicine who has prescribed program responsibilities; a scientist experienced in laboratory animal procedures; a non-scientist; and a non-affiliated member (a person who has no affiliation with the university other than being a member of the IACUC and who represents general community interest in proper animal care). The UTSA IACUC consists of 9 voting members possessing the qualifications listed above, and two non-voting members involved in supervisory aspects of the Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC). Two alternate members have also been appointed.

What are the responsibilities of the IACUC?
The responsibilities of the IACUC include, but are not limited to the following list.
The IACUC will:

  1. Inspect all of the animal facilities, including animal study areas and satellite facilities at least once every six months.
  2. Review the Animal Care Program for the utilization of animals in research at least once every six months.
  3. Review and approve, require modifications to, or withhold approval of animal care and use protocols.
  4. Review and investigate legitimate concerns involving the care and use of laboratory animals raised by the public, employees or students.
  5. Suspend animal use activities if non-compliance is verified; take corrective action and report both the non-compliance and the corrective action taken to the Institution al Official and funding agencies.

Is the IACUC responsible for judging the scientific merit of proposals??
According to OLAW FAQ D.12:

“Peer review of the scientific and technical merit of an application is considered the purview of the NIH Scientific Review Groups (SRGs), which are composed of scientific experts from the extramural research community in a particular area of expertise. However, SRGs also have authority to raise specific animal welfare concerns that can require resolution prior to a grant award.

Although not intended to conduct peer review of research proposals, the IACUC is expected to include consideration of the U.S. Government Principles in its review of protocols. Principle II calls for an evaluation of the relevance of a procedure to human or animal health, the advancement of knowledge, or the good of society. Other PHS Policy review criteria refer to sound research design, rationale for involving animals, and scientifically valuable research. Presumably a study that could not meet these basic criteria is inherently unnecessary and wasteful and, therefore, not justifiable.

The primary focus of the SRG is scientific merit and the primary focus of the IACUC is animal welfare. The two bodies have differing constitutions, mandates and functions. However, since it is not entirely possibly to separate scientific value from animal welfare some overlap is inevitable. SRGs may raise concerns about animal welfare and IACUCs may question the scientific rationale or necessity for a procedure. [A1]”

Non-Member Attendance Policy

There are situations in which it would be necessary or advantageous to the IACUC to have non-members attend meetings to provide input or advice, or simply to observe the operational procedures of the committee.Examples of such situations would include clarifications of proposals to use unusual or novel equipment, materials and/or procedures to enhance the committee’s understanding of the details of specific animal use proposals.

  1. At times it may be important for certain UTSA administrators to be aware of IACUC operations or agenda items to be discussed in specific IACUC meetings. Thus, if invited by the IACUC Chair or Director, administrators at or above the level of Department Chair, or likewise, Chairpersons of other compliance or safety committees that have oversight over issues of common interest, will be allowed to attend all or certain portions of specific IACUC meetings. Such persons will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement in a form acceptable to the IACUC prior to attending any IACUC meeting.
  2. The IACUC Chair or Director may also invite a PI (or his/her designated representative) to attend a portion of an IACUC meeting that includes an agenda item relating to that PI. The PI (or his/her designated representative) will be allowed to attend the meeting solely to provide IACUC members with information about the pertinent item and must leave the meeting before the IACUC begins deliberations thereon. All PIs (or their designated representatives) will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement in a form acceptable to the IACUC prior to attending any IACUC meeting.

Links

external-link-list Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) Safety Data Sheets
external-link-list Statistical Calculations Resource

Helping the researchers navigate the maze of regulatory compliance and reach the goal of ‘good science’.

Contact Staff

Yolanda Acosta
Senior Research Compliance Coordinator
(210) 458-7733
Location: GSR 2.128F
iacuc@utsa.edu
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