Animal Research References and Documents

Draft IACUC Semi-Annual Self-Evaluation Form, and Sample Minutes. Note: The old VA IACUC Semi-Annual Self-Evaluation form no longer allows ready compliance with PHS Policy, USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations, or VA Policy. A set of forms that help prompt a compliant semi-annual evalution based upon VHA Handbook 1200.7 is now available. There are three forms (revised as of Oct 5, 2005): Form 1 (Checklist), Form 2 (Table of Program and Facilities Deficiencies), and Form 3 (Post-Review Documentation). Also available is a template for IACUC minutes that will help produce compliant minutes.

Authority for allowing use of VA animal facility space by other entitites. Please click on the link to the Research Administration reference documents at the bottom of the page for information on this topic.

Office of Research and Development Letter #IL 12-2002-001: Request for Applications (RFA) for Equipment to Enhance Research Laboratory and Animal Facility Security. The Veterans Health Administration Office of Research & Development announces the opportunity for VA Medical Centers to submit applications for the purchase of equipment to enhance the current level of security for research laboratories and animal facilities located within VA Medical Centers. More information is available in the VA section at Research Administration References/Documents.

VHA Handbook 1202.6: Shared Equipment Evaluation Program Handbook. This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook establishes policies and procedures related to the Shared Equipment Evaluation Program (ShEEP) for the Medical Research Service. More information is available in the VA section at Research Administration References/Documents.

Veterinary Medical Unit Report Form Covering FY2004: For FY2004 the VMU annual report will have to be completed online. Details will be forthcoming in December. If you need the Veterinary Medical Unit Report Form Covering FY2003, click here. If you need the Veterinary Medical Unit Report Form Covering FY2002, click here. Any questions, please contact Dr. Mike Fallon by e-mail (michael.fallon@med.va.gov).

Download recent presentations: 2001 National VA Research Meeting (includes slides and handout sheets).

Download PowerPoint files from past VA animal research presentations:
2001 National VA Research Meeting, 2001 AO Training Powerpoint file and MS Word handout file, 2001 ACOS Training Powerpoint file and MS Word handout file, 2001 NAVREF Meeting, 2000 SRA Meeting, 1999 National VA Research Meeting, 2002 AALAS CVMO Report, AAALAS 2003 CVMO Presentation, 2004 AO Training Presentation, 2004 AALAS CVMO Report, and SRA 2004.

Instructions for veterinarians serving as reviewers in the Secondary Veterinary Medical Review Program (SVMRP). These are the instructions provided to laboratory animal veterinarians who serve as reviewers in the SVMRP. This document is included in all reviewer packets. The scores given to ACORPs by reviewers are the source of veterinary holds as well as the data on IACUC scores provided semi-annually to research administrators.

Version 3 of the draft ACORP (Animal Component of Research Protocol) Download the latest version of the new ACORP. Either Version 2 or Version 3 will be accepted as part of JIT reviews until January 1, 2006 to accommodate investigators who have received approval on Version 2 prior to the January 1, 2005 deadline for Version 3 adoption.

Handbook 1200.7, "Use of Animals in Research" Dated May 27th, 2005, this handbook has replaced M-3 Chapter 12. Note that Appendix D of the handbook is consistent with version 3 of the ACORP, but the ACORP questions in 1200.7 have not been formatted for easy use. Instead, use the link above to download the formatted version 3 ACORP files for IACUC use.

M-3, Chapter 12, Animal Subjects in Research This policy document has been replaced by Handbook 1200.7, "Use of Animals in Research", dated May 27th, 2005.

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Occupational Health And Safety For Veterinary Medical Units, Program Guide #10-05, M-3, Part I, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, March 6, 1996. This policy document has been revised and has been replaced by Appendix C of Handbook 1200.7, "Use of Animals in Research". To download brochure that may be useful in orienting employees to laboratory animal occupational health and safety issues, click here. This brochure was revised by Dr. Dave Delong at the Minneapolis VAMC for use by all VA stations, and may be modified as needed.

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VHA Directive 10-95-031, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Responsibility for VA-Owned Research Animals Housed in Non-VA Facilities and Non-VA-Owned Research Animals Housed in VA Facilities. The information in this outdated Directive has been incorporated into Appendix D of the new Handbook 1200.7, " Use of Animals in Research"

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VHA Directive 10-95-045, Accreditation Requirement for VA Facilities Conducting Research Using Animal Subjects Regardless Of Funding Source. The information in this outdated Directive has been incorporated into new Handbook 1200.7, " Use of Animals in Research."

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VA Communication about the Hazards of Fail-On Heating Valves in Animal Facilities, 1994. The information in this communication has been incorporated into Section 7 of the new draft Handbook 1200.7, " Use of Animals in Research."

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Old "Request to Use Explosive Agents" - no longer in use; instead use the new version appearing as Appendix 8 in Version 3 of the ACORP. Note: HQ approval no longer necessary; approvals can be handled locally.

Old "Request to Use Patient Care Area" - no longer in use; instead use the new version available as Appendix 7 in Version 3 of the new draft ACORP. Note: HQ approval no longer necessary; approvals can be handled locally.

Department of Veterans Affairs, VA intranet website. This site is not available outside of the VA intranet.

Department of Veterans Affairs, public internet website. This site is available from inside and outside the VA intranet.

VA Research and Development (Office of Research and Development), VA intranet website. This site is not available outside of the VA intranet.

VA Research and Development (Office of Research and Development), public internet website. This site is available from inside and outside the VA intranet.

ORCA VA intranet website. This site is not available outside of the VA intranet.

ORCA public internet website. This site is available from inside and outside the VA intranet.

***NEW*** ResearchTraining.Org. A web-based IACUC member and investigator training site which includes an on-line post-test and remote IACUC administration functions. Access to courses and use of post-test and IACUC administration features is currently free to all institutions. Sponsored by the Medical Research Service, VA Office of Research and Development.

AALAS IACUC Web Page. An excellent website with links to many animal research websites not covered on this page.

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. Journal of the American Vererinary Medical Association, volume 218, no. 5, pages 669-696, March 1, 2001 (et seq.). AVMA, 930 N. Meacham Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60196. 800/248-2862. (Link will allow download of 212 Kb PDF File- Use Adobe Acrobat Reader to view)

1993 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia

Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA). ARENA Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidebook

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Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC). The AWIC website provides extensive information on alternatives and database searches that address alternatives and the "three R's" of Russell and Burch.

AltWeb. The AltWeb website has news, information, discussion and resources for properly considering alternatives to animal testing. The site also addresses the "three R's" of Russell and Burch. Altweb is hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT).

Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (AWA), (P.L. 89-544) and subsequent amendments (7 USC 2131-2156). This legislation tasked the USDA with developing regulations to implement the AWA. These regulations are known as the USDA AWA Regulations and Standards (see next row). Note that the "AWA" and "USDA AWA Regulations and Standards" are entirely different documents!

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USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations and Standards, 9 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Animal Welfare. Parts 1, 2, and 3. These USDA regulations implement the Animal Welfare Act.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care Policy Manual. This manual is used by the Animal Care Section in APHIS to clarify how some portions of the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations and Standards will be interpreted (analogous to the guidance provided by OLAW in multiple publications for interpeting PHS Policy [see OLAW link in PHS section below]).

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care Section home page. Animal Care is the USDA unit responsible for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act Regulations and Standards.

USDA Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) information. This is where some records of USDA inspections of animal research facilities are made available to the public.

USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC). The AWIC website provides extensive information on alternatives and database searches that also address the "three R's" of Russell and Burch.

National Institute of Mental Health, NIH. Methods and Welfare Considerations in Behavioral Research with Animals, 2002 version. NIMH has created a handbook to assist the IACUC in the evaluation of protocols that employ various means to manipulate the behavior and health of laboratory animals. The handbook may be useful to the researcher who is considering different methodologies for behavioral experiments. The report contains chapters on manipulation of access to food or fluids; experimental enclosures/physical restraint; pharmacological studies; aversive stimuli; social variables; ethological approaches; and teaching with animals. PDF, Word, and WordPerfect versions are available at the website. Links to the Word and WordPerfect versions also appear to the right.

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PHS Notice NOT-OD-01-017. Guidance regarding use of alternate IACUC members, lack of requirement for duplicate protocol reviews by two institutions, and use of pharmaceuticals past their expiration dates in animal care and use programs.

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Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 1996 version, National Research Council. This document was prepared under a federal contract awarded to the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR). It forms the basis for part of PHS Policy.

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Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, including the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-158, "Animals in Research"), and the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training, Prepared by the U.S. Interagency Research Animal Committee, and originally published Federal Register, May 20, 1985, Vol. 50, No. 97, by the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). OLAW (formerly OPRR) is the administrative unit of the Public Health Service responsible for administering and enforcing PHS Policy. This site contains an index to OLAW guidance in a number of publications regarding how some parts of PHS Policy will be interpreted (analogous to the guidance provided in the USDA APHIS Animal Care Policy Manual for interpreting some parts of the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations [see the Animal Care Policy link in the USDA section above]).

AAALAC Home Page.

AAALAC Rules of Accreditation.

Application for a PSE (Program Status Evaluation).

Outline of Description of Institutional Animal Care and Use Program.

Instructions for Completing Program Description for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Program.

AALAS IACUC Web Page. An excellent website with links to many animal research websites not covered on this page.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC select infectious agents requiring special licensing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 CFR Part 72/RIN 0905-AE70 (Implementation of Section 511 of Public Law 104-132, "The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996"). October 1996.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Biosafety in the Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 4th edition. DHHS Pub. No. (CDC) 93-8395, May 1999. Division of Safety, NIH, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1C02, Bethesda, MD 20892. 301/496-2801. Download the 8.06 Mb PDF file.

NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities (OBA). NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules. Effective June 24, 1994, Published in Federal Register, July 5, 1994 (59 FR 34496) with subsequent amendments. Latest revision is April 2002.