Policy on Animal Based Projects Involving Two or More Institutions

University Animal Care Committee (UACC)

The CCAC policy on: animal-based projects involving two or more institutions (CCAC, 2003) and the CCAC FAQ on animal-based projects involving two or more institutions (CCAC 2020) provide the framework for institutions to follow when developing a process for animal-based collaborative work. Institutions are responsible for the ethical acceptability of animal-based research, teaching, and testing undertaken by their faculty, staff, other personnel and students, regardless of where the work is conducted. While most animal use is undertaken by investigators and teachers working within their own “home” institutions and overseen by the local animal care committee (ACC), in certain cases, investigators and instructors undertake animal work in one or several “host” institutions or in the field. The following policy is intended to provide guidance on how collaborative animal-based projects are managed.
All animal work conducted at Queen’s University or by Queen’s University personnel (even at another institution such as during a sabbatical) requires prior approval of the Queen’s University Animal Care Committee (UACC). For Queen’s University personnel, this means that prior approval is required for all animals that are:

  • Housed/held in Queen’s University facilities
  • Housed/held in external facilities (private or public institutions within or outside of Canada)
  • Collected in the wild (within or outside of Canada)

Queen’s Researchers Conducting Work at Other Institutions:

An approved Queen’s University animal use protocol (AUP) must cover all animal-based work by Queen’s University personnel. As the body which reviews and approves AUP’s, the Queen’s UACC is consequently responsible for overseeing this work, even when it involves two or more institutions, and even when the animals are housed, and the work takes place at another institution. Therefore, a researcher from Queen’s University who wishes to carry out animal-based work within another institution’s facilities must submit an animal use protocol to the Queen’s UACC.

Generally, the institution that is managing the funding for the work is classified as the “home” institution and the institution where the work takes place, the “host”. In some cases, the home ACC reviews the protocol first to ensure it meets the ethical expectations of the institution and to verify scientific or pedagogical merit review and then provides conditional approval contingent on host ACC approval (ensuring the work follows institutional ethical expectations and can occur in practice). However, this process can also occur in reverse in that the host institution may review the application first followed by the home institution. Both parties must conduct a thorough review and communicate the outcome (including any relevant conditions or details accompanying the decision) accordingly prior to any work being initiated. A well-defined arrangement for monitoring the proposed project (i.e.: shared post-approval monitoring reports etc.) and the welfare of the animals, should be in place.

Where parts of a project take place at different institutions or in the field, each ACC may choose to approve and monitor only those parts that take place at their institution or are undertaken by its associates in the field. To facilitate the review process, it is preferable that proposals where Queen’s is the home institution be submitted and processed through Topaz Elements. When necessary, external protocol forms will be attached and processed through Topaz Elements for record management purposes.

Associates from Other Institutions doing Work at Queen’s:

Researchers from other institutions who use animals in research, teaching or testing at Queen’s University (e.g.: researchers from other institutions using the Queen’s University Biology Station (QUBS)) must provide the UACC with copies of their home approved protocols for review and approval by the Queen’s UACC. These protocols may be submitted on the forms from the home institution including a statement of approval. Where parts of a project take place at different institutions or different field sites, it must be clear which aspects of the protocol pertain to each animal care committee to facilitate review. PIs must clarify the aspects of their home approved protocol that are relevant to Queen's and for renewals and amendments PIs must highlight the changes that are being made. Individuals conducting work at Queen’s must familiarize themselves with relevant UACC policies. In particular, the UACC Policy on Visitor’s Within Animal Facilities and the UACC Policy on Taking and Sharing Images of Animals in Science must be respected.

In Summary

Any animal work with an affiliation to Queen’s University, either being carried out at Queen’s or at another institution, must have Queen’s UACC approval prior to animals being acquired and work commencing. Research funding will not be released until adequate approval is in place, regardless of whether the work will be performed at Queen’s University.

As per the CCAC FAQ on Animal-Based Projects Involving Two or More Institutions (May 2020), institutions will work together to ensure that appropriate training, monitoring, and compliance are in place and will communicate all outcomes accordingly.

If you are unsure as to whether you require Queen’s UACC approval, please contact the UACC Coordinator (uacc@queensu.ca).

Date New Version
01/10/2007 Policy Created and Approved
05/10/2010 Triennial Review
11/19/2014 Triennial Review
10/26/2017 Triennial Review
10/22/2020 Triennial Review; Revised to further define approval and post approval monitoring process when more than 1 institution is involved; reference to CCAC FAQ on Animal Based Projects Involving Two or More Institutions 
10/25/2023 Triennial Review; Reference to policies on visitors and  images of animals in science for associates from other institutions performing work at Queen’s; New Format

 

UACC Policy on Animal Based Projects Involving Two or More Institutions

Download Animal Based Projects Involving Two or More Institutions policy (PDF 113 KB)