IACUC Protocol Review Requirements

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is responsible to ensure the humane care and use of animals, as well as personnel safety, for all University activities. The use of animals may be associated with teaching, research, training, experimentation, artistic display, biological testing, and related protocols involving live animals or their parts while conducted at this University, or at any other institution as a consequence of the sub-granting or subcontracting of an activity.  

The IACUC shall evaluate each animal use protocol and project description for (but not limited to):

1. Adherence to the provisions and standards cited in Section V of SJSU’ Academic Senate policy, S14-6 (and subsequent revisions thereof).
   
   
2. Assurance that all procedures conducted on animals are current, acceptable practices, including, as required by law, written justification in support of any proposed procedure that will cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to any animal (REFINEMENT).
   
   
3. Assurance that routine supplementation, physical and psychological enrichment and adequate veterinary care are provided for all animals unless written justification is provided.
   
   
4. Assurance that all necessary procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to animals are performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia or anesthesia, with accompanying documentation and scientific justification that less painful or distressful procedures are not available (REFINEMENT).
   
   
5. Assurance that the number of animals to be used is the minimum necessary to achieve valid results (REDUCTION) and that alternatives to the use live animals have been adequately examined (REPLACEMENT).
   
   
6. Assurance that animal activity locations, vehicles and facilities are described in the protocol and appropriate for the use of animals.  For facilities located off-campus, the IACUC must consider incorporating them into the institution’s animal use program whereas the care and use of animals will be conducted.
   
   
7. Assurance from the Principal Investigator that the proposed animal activity has been examined and is not unnecessarily duplicating work that is ongoing or has already completed, either in publication or curriculum.
   
   
8. Assurance that the level of personnel involvement, animal handling experience and training (or required training and supervision) is described and that all individuals are properly trained and deemed proficient by the Principal Investigator in the humane care and use of animals before engaging in an animal-related activity.
   
   
9. Assurance that all necessary and applicable Federal, state or local collection or access permits are provided and kept current.