Research and Teaching Activities Involving Use of Vertebrate Animals Policy

Policy Statement & Background:

The University is committed to the humane care and use of animals. Long before being required to do so by the State and Federal government, this University initiated policies that addressed activities involving animals and established a committee to monitor those activities. Responsibility for all activities involving vertebrate animals resides with the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

Policy:

• Initiating and Maintaining Research and Teaching Activities Involving Use of Vertebrate Animals

1. Research or teaching activities involving the use of vertebrate animals are regulated by laws and policies at the campus, State and Federal   levels.

2. The faculty, staff, and students at the University are required to comply with these regulations.

3. These regulations also apply to visitors, users of campus facilities, and users of off-campus University facilities.

4. Non-Stony Brook University users of campus facilities and users of off-campus University facilities must enter into appropriate agreement(s)  with the University.

5. Any research or teaching activity involving the use of live vertebrate animals much be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to ordering animals and prior to commencement of the activity.

6. Except as stated below, permission for the use of vertebrate animals for research or teaching purposes must be obtained through the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR).
   1. The IACUC may waive the requirement of mandatory acquisition of animals through DLAR in cases where the activity involves field work. Such a waiver is granted when the detailed methods of observation, capture, and/or tagging of vertebrate animals are determined by the IACUC to be in compliance with applicable regulations governing such work. See item 11 below for additional information.
   2. Use of privately-owned animals is prohibited.
7. Users of vertebrate animals must follow policies set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health (NIH) (8^th Edition).

8. In the event that the animals must be euthanized, the method of euthanasia must conform to those reported in the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition, or subsequent revisions. Methods of euthanasia for species not covered by this report must be employed as per IACUC recommendation.

9. All individuals involved in activities in which animals are used must attend a training session on the humane care and use of animals conducted by the Director of the DLAR or designee as required in Stony Brook’s Assurance filed with the National Institutes of Health.

10. IACUC approval is required in cases where members of the University propose to engage in collaborative work that involves the use of animals in facilities other than those under the auspices of Stony Brook.

11. Some research animals are wild caught and may be obtained without DLAR involvement, but a valid IACUC protocol is still required and DLAR  must be notified if the animals will be housed at Stony Brook. Investigators are expected to secure the appropriate permits to trap/catch any animals. In addition, some areas require use permits to be able to do any research on their lands. It is the responsibility of the PI to obtain such permits.

12. The use of any other animals on campus (e.g. demonstration animals, therapy animals, security animals, etc.) must be consistent with the University's Animals on Campus Policy, and all rules and procedures therein must be followed.

Definitions:

None

Contact:

Office of Research Compliance 

W5530, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library 

Stony Brook, NY 11794-3368

Phone: (631) 632-9036

Fax: (631) 632-9839

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/research-compliance/index.php

Relevant Standards, Codes, Rules, Regulations, Statutes and Policies:

• Animal Welfare Act (United States Department of Agriculture)

• AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals
• Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH)
• NYCRR Title 10, Chapter I, State Sanitary Code
• NYCRR Title 10, Chapter II, Administrative Rules & Regulations
• Research Involving Human Subjects Policy
• Stony Brook Office of Research Compliance Website, Animal Use
• Animals on Campus Policy