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Response to Protocol Review Scenario: IACUC acted appropriately, but...

Lab Animal volume 39, pages 336–337 (2010)Cite this article

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The Great Eastern University IACUC seems to have an established procedure for addressing expiring protocols, which is consistent with policies of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). OLAW guidance states unequivocally that IACUCs do not have the authority to administratively extend approval beyond 3 years1. The IACUC sent Linder three notices of pending protocol expiration, but it is unclear how much advance notice she actually received. Submitting and obtaining approval of a renewal protocol well in advance is essential, because a protocol expires even if it is under review by the IACUC on the expiration date2.

Linder's statement that “[w]e're only talking about a week, maybe less, and you're making me jump through bureaucratic hoops and stop funded research?” suggests that her grant period may be ending very soon. Consequently, she doesn't see the need to renew her protocol. Nonetheless, NIH and OLAW policy is clear: “continuation of animal activities in the absence of valid approval is a serious and reportable violation of PHS [Public Health Service] Policy [Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals]”1. Therefore, Covelli, the IACUC Chair, is correct to state the IACUC must ensure that research manipulations stop and to point out that PHS funds may not be used in support of unauthorized activities2.

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References

  1. Public Health Service. Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals — Frequently Asked Questions. Protocol Review, Question D-2. (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 2006; revised 2010). http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#d2

  2. National Institute of Health Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration. Transcript of OLAW Online IACUC Staff Seminar: When Terms and Conditions Are Not Met. 4 December 2008. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/081204_seminar_transcript.pdf

  3. Public Health Service. Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals — Frequently Asked Questions. IACUC Composition, Functions and Authority, Question B-10. (US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 2006; revised 2010). http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#b10

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  1. Richerson is the Assistant Chief Veterinary Medical Officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development in Nashville, TN.,

    Joan T. Richerson

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  1. Joan T. Richerson
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Richerson, J. Response to Protocol Review Scenario: IACUC acted appropriately, but.... Lab Anim 39, 336–337 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1110-336b

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