Vertebrate Animal Use Proposal

The Mount Holyoke College Vertebrate Animal Use Proposal is a multi-page form (revised 9/23) which must be filled out by the principal investigator or faculty when vertebrate animal use, or work with cephalopods is planned for teaching or research. Each proposed project requires a separate proposal form. The signed original (hard copy) along with an email version (for distribution to Committee members) should be submitted to the IACUC Chair (Cheryl McGraw, Department of Psychology & Education). Allow a minimum of 1 week for the review. Depending upon additional information that may be requested from any IACUC member, an additional week may be required. The veterinarian will review all proposals that are invasive or involve administration of any drugs. Any IACUC member has the right to request that a particular proposal be reviewed by the entire Committee.

A written decision or e-mail communication on the outcome of the review will be sent to the faculty investigator/sponsor and the respective Department Chair. Should approval be denied, the faculty investigator/sponsor may ask for reconsideration by the IACUC, and in so doing, provide appropriate response to IACUC concerns. Failing this, the IACUC decision stands.

There is a one-year time limit for an approved project to begin. If a researcher has not begun the research in an approved project within a year, (s)he must submit a new proposal form and start the approval process again. [MHC IACUC December 18 & 21, 1998]

When there is a recurring use of animals in teaching that remains the same every semester or year (e.g., a specific lab exercise), the appropriate detailed animal use proposal form need only be submitted once, and will remain on file with the IACUC Chair. All ongoing approved proposals must come up for annual review. Faculty are asked to email the date(s) of the approved animal use and any updated information to the IACUC Chair before the semester of intended use (i.e. submit form by May 1 for fall semester use, by Dec. 1 for spring semester use). The Committee will review these ongoing proposals at its semiannual meeting before the semester that these activities would occur.

In order to comply with government regulations on oversight, anyone whose approved vertebrate use proposal now seems to require additional animals from the original specified amount, needs to seek additional approval from the Committee to purchase or breed more animals. [MHC IACUC December 18 & 21, 1998]

In general, for new animal use in teaching, the IACUC requests that all the semester's new proposals be submitted by September 1 for fall semester, and January 30 for spring semester to avoid any delays in planned use of animals in teaching. For use of animals in research, it is prudent to submit the proposal(s) as far in advance of the planned start date as possible (e.g., a month , at least).

Approval of a project can be rescinded by the IACUC if there is inappropriate activity by the PI or associated researchers with respect to animal use and maintenance [MHC IACUC, May 13, 2009].