Background

Before any vertebrate animal can be procured or used in laboratory, farm or field research, training or teaching, the proposed animal use must reviewed and approved by the UMass-IACUC.

The UMass-Amherst Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, a federally mandated committee, consists of scientists from several disciplines, non-scientists, veterinarians, and a non-affiliated member representing the local community.

UMass Amherst is registered as a research facility (#14-R-0036) with the United States Department of Agriculture and has an approved Animal Welfare Assurance (#A3551-01) on file with the NIH Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). The Assurance requires UMass to comply with standards set forth in the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and guidelines described in the 1996 "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals".

All vertebrate animals are covered by UMass OLAW Assurance.

For planning research or teaching activities that use live animals, keep in mind “three R's” as an ethical guide to the use of live animals, (Russell and Burch, 1959). Replacement refers to substituting non-vertebrate organisms, cell cultures, tissues from slaughter or post-mortem specimens, or non-animal systems. Reduction refers to minimizing the number of animals needed. Refinement refers to incorporating methods to reduce pain and stress to the animals used in the design of the study.

Information about, and links to, federal animal welfare laws and other information related to the care and use of animals in research and teaching can be accessed at the UMass-Amherst research website: http://www.umass.edu/research/aco.

Once a protocol has been approved, proposed changes also need IACUC approval. Changes include adding new species, changing numbers, or adding procedures not in the original protocol. Significant departures from the original protocol must be addressed in a new, separate protocol.

For custom antibody production, either by UMass Amherst AP facility or through an off-campus vendor, an Appendix AP must be filled for IACUC review. Appendix AP is NOT submitted through e-Protocol IACUC.




Research Home Compliance Home Animal Use Biological Safety Feedback Forms Human Subjects Research Policies Responsible Conduct Staff		Background Before any vertebrate animal can be procured or used in laboratory, farm or field research, training or teaching, the proposed animal use must reviewed and approved by the UMass-IACUC. The UMass-Amherst Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, a federally mandated committee, consists of scientists from several disciplines, non-scientists, veterinarians, and a non-affiliated member representing the local community. UMass Amherst is registered as a research facility (#14-R-0036) with the United States Department of Agriculture and has an approved Animal Welfare Assurance (#A3551-01) on file with the NIH Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). The Assurance requires UMass to comply with standards set forth in the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and guidelines described in the 1996 "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals". All vertebrate animals are covered by UMass OLAW Assurance. For planning research or teaching activities that use live animals, keep in mind “three R's” as an ethical guide to the use of live animals, (Russell and Burch, 1959). Replacement refers to substituting non-vertebrate organisms, cell cultures, tissues from slaughter or post-mortem specimens, or non-animal systems. Reduction refers to minimizing the number of animals needed. Refinement refers to incorporating methods to reduce pain and stress to the animals used in the design of the study. Information about, and links to, federal animal welfare laws and other information related to the care and use of animals in research and teaching can be accessed at the UMass-Amherst research website: http://www.umass.edu/research/aco. Once a protocol has been approved, proposed changes also need IACUC approval. Changes include adding new species, changing numbers, or adding procedures not in the original protocol. Significant departures from the original protocol must be addressed in a new, separate protocol. For custom antibody production, either by UMass Amherst AP facility or through an off-campus vendor, an Appendix AP must be filled for IACUC review. Appendix AP is NOT submitted through e-Protocol IACUC.


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