Bishop’s University

Research with Animals

The Animal Care Committee (ACC) oversees animal use within Bishop’s jurisdiction to ensure compliance with regulations and ethical guidelines set by the Canadian Council on Animal Care. It reviews and approves teaching and research protocols, preventing any animal-related activities from starting without prior approval. The ACC operates based on the 2006 “Terms of Reference for Animal Care Committees” by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.

IMPORTANT: No research, testing, field work, or teaching activities involving animals commences without prior ACC approval of an animal use protocol and that no animals are acquired or used before such approval is granted.

FACULTY: When working with vertebrate species (including behavioral observations in the field–refer to the CCAC categories of invasiveness) and with invertebrate species with a more highly developed nervous system (i.e. cephalopods) one must submit a protocol to the ACC using the appropriate “Animal Use Form” (either for teaching , for exercise or for research) available in the BU Research Portal. A copy of all relevant permits should be submitted with the application. The supervisor hiring students must submit a “Animal Use Protocol Renewal or Modification Event Form” to add the student to the list of research personnel. This form is can be accessed by clicking the “Events” button on an active protocol.

STUDENTS: Those conducting animal research do not have to submit their own Animal Utilization Form if they are working under a supervisor from Bishop’s who has received approval for their research from the ACC. If the student is conducting research not already approved by the ACC, the supervisor must submit the Animal Use Form and add the student to the personnel list.

Please use the General Guidelines to put in place all the endpoints needed in a protocol before submission.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) were developed to provide a detailed description of proper and commonly used procedures. The following SOPs were approved by the University Animal Care Committee. Any deviation from the approved procedures must be clearly described and justified in the Animal utilization form for research projects or teaching exercises.

For further information, please contact Mr. Jeffrey MacDonald, ACC Chair (jmacdona@UBishops.ca) or the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (researchoffice@UBishops.ca).

Tri-Annual DeadlinesReview by Committee
1st MarchMid March
1st JuneMid June
1st SeptemberMid September


ANNUAL ACC REPORTING

An annual report form is required for all completed or continuing research projects utilizing animals. This event form can be accessed by clicking the “Events” button on an active protocol in the B.U. Research Portal. The “Animal Use Annual Report Form” must be submitted by January 15, or the following business day if the 15th of the month falls on a weekend or holiday.

Researchers working as part of a larger team that have already received approval from another institution must still submit an “Animal Use Form” to the B.U. Research Portal. The researcher should clearly indicate where the research fits into the larger project, and should specify what consists of the researchers own work, and what work is being conducted by the group. A copy of all relevant permits and animal care protocols and approvals obtained by the institution animal care ethic committee, should also be submitted to the ACC with the application.

Training is mandatory for anyone working with or planning to work with animals, including investigators, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants, technicians, and students listed on an animal use protocol. Animal work must be supervised until competency has been assessed and confirmed.

Through agreements with McGill University, Bishop’s animal users can complete theoretical training in English (McGill). Trainees must review the course material, pass the required exam, and receive practical training from the Principal Investigator. Any alternate training method must be approved by the Animal Care Committee.

For wildlife, amphibians, fish (including zebrafish), birds, reptiles, or field research:

  1. Review the Ethics for Animal Training Theory Course
  2. Access the Core Ethics Theory Exam

Upon successful completion, a training certificate will be emailed to both the participant and the Bishop’s Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

The owner of the ROMEO Animal Protocol is responsible for uploading student training certificates to the protocol.

Training Responsibilities

  • Principal Investigator (PI) and Biology Laboratory Technician: Responsible for providing training to personnel who work with animals and confirming that the training has been completed.
  • Animal Care Committee (ACC): Responsible for ensuring that personnel working with animals have the necessary training to perform procedures appropriately and humanely. As part of its post-approval monitoring program, the ACC may assess personnel competency and recommend additional training when needed.

Individuals conducting animal-based research under the approval of another institution must complete the required animal user training and registration process through that institution.

The CCAC requires to report any animal mortality within the required 14-day period and not, during the annual reporting onto Romeo.

Bishop’s University Animal Care Incident Report Form (PDF)

Bishop’s University Crisis Management Plan (PDF)

For further information, please contact the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (researchoffice@UBishops.ca).