Animal Use Protocols

Anyone who wishes to use live animals in research or teaching at Western and its affiliates must disclose all procedures in an approved Animal Use Protocol (AUP). All AUPs are reviewed by ACC members, consisting of animal-using researchers, research lab animal technicians, graduate students, non-animal-using researchers, a veterinarian, and members of the community at large who have never worked in animal research. Any subsequent changes to the AUP post-approval must also be reviewed and approved by the ACC via Protocol Modification.

To begin an AUP at Western, please contact auspc@uwo.ca for more information. A protocol facilitation service is also offered through Animal Care & Veterinary Services.

The following is the Animal Use Protocol (AUP) Review process at Western University and its affiliates. A completed electronic AUP, Annual Protocol Renewal or Protocol Modification form, authorized by the Principal Investigator (PI) or Designate, must be submitted to the ACC Office via the eSirius protocol management website.

The ACC Administrative Office will assess form content and determine one of the following review workflows:

  •     Full Review
  •     Designated Review
  •     Office Review

Full Review

Full reviews comprise of most AUPs, as well as any Annual Protocol Renewals and Protocol Modifications that are deemed ethically-sensitive by reviewers of the lower review tiers. Full Review takes place once a month at the ACC Monthly Meetings, where the AUP is reviewed by the ACC at large. Once returned from committee, questions are sent back to the PI by the ACC office and the answers are reviewed for completion and satisfaction by a select number of ACC members. From first submission to final approval, this process takes two months, minimum.

Designated Review

Designated Reviews comprise of most Annual Protocol Renewals and most Protocol Modifications involving a change of procedure for the animal. These are sent weekly to the designated reviews - often the chair/vice-chair, a community representative and a vet - who have a week to review the documents. Questions are forwarded to the PI and are reviewed by a vet and the ACC office staff for satisfactory completion. This process takes a minimum of two weeks from submission to approval.

Office Reviews

Office reviews comprise of Protocol Modifications that either do not affect the animal directly (personnel changes, funding, etc.) or modifications that lessen the invasiveness or stress on the animal models. These reviews are performed by the ACC office and a vet and take between one business day and one week to complete.