IACUC Policy 350 - Holding Protocol Usage

Effective Date: May 17, 2023

I. Policy Purpose

To provide a mechanism for holding animals not assigned to an active Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol. This policy defines the SIU Animal Holding Protocol, designed to temporarily hold animals not currently covered under an active IACUC protocol. Holding Protocols are intended for housing purposes only; no research or teaching activities may be performed on animals held under a holding protocol.

II. Policy Statement

Animal use activities at SIUC must adhere to all federal regulations. The IACUC is responsible for ensuring that all animal use activities meet federal law, Public Health Service policy, and accreditation standards. All animals maintained by SIU for teaching or research must be covered by an active, approved IACUC protocol.

Responsibilities:

Researcher – The PI should work with the IACUC to ensure that protocols are active and current for the duration of the research or teaching activities. Should a protocol expire while animals are being held under it, then research/teaching activities must cease.

IACUC – The IACUC provides a mechanism for the rapid transfer of animals where necessary to protect the welfare or prevent the waste of animals.

Attending Veterinarian or Designee – The AV maintains a Holding Protocol to receive and maintain animals that would otherwise be euthanized for lack of an existing active protocol.

III. Procedures

Use of the Holding Protocol (HP) is intended to be temporary. Situations that may result in the use of an HP might include:

1. Animals ordered without an approved protocol (noncompliance situation).
2. Animals originating from inactive or terminated protocols.
3. Animals on a protocol under investigation for potential issues of noncompliance where the welfare or wellbeing of the animals is in question.
4. New investigators without an IACUC-approved protocol having animals that may require immediate housing at SIU.
5. Investigators leaving SIU that do not have approval for transfer to their new institution.

Procedures:

1. The PI requesting the transfer of animals to a Holding Protocol must submit the request to iacuc@siu.edu. Holding protocol transfers may only be authorized by the IACUC Chair or attending veterinarian. All actions will be reported to the IACUC at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
2. Per Diem vivarium fees, as applicable, will be charged to the investigator (or department) while animals are on a vivarium holding protocol. No animal-related costs may be charged to federal funding sources until the animals are placed on an approved non-holding protocol.
3. Animals should be removed from the Holding Protocol as soon as possible. The maximum time for an animal to stay on a Holding Protocol is 90 days. The IACUC may grant an extension to this duration on a case-by-case basis.
4. Failure to submit an animal use protocol to the IACUC in a timely manner may result in a noncompliance and IACUC action.
5. Animal management while on a Holding Protocol:

• No experimental procedures are allowed to animals maintained on the HP. Any use of animals on the HP will be treated as serious regulatory noncompliance.
• Breeding may be performed to maintain viability of specific lines under the HP. Breeding to expand the colony is not authorized.
• Feeding, sanitation, and environmental enrichment will be performed as expected for the species. Husbandry duties will be performed by animal care staff or other assigned, qualified individual. Appropriate personnel may be added to the HP to achieve this in special circumstances.
• Animals may not be euthanized for research purposes. No tissues may be utilized from animals euthanized without specific IACUC approval.
• No additional animals may be ordered under the HP absent exigent circumstances. Animals should only be ordered under an approved PI protocol.
• Animal care staff must be notified of all significant pre-existing conditions prior to transfer of animals to the Holding Protocol. Examples include but are not limited to surgical implants and past surgical history, disease status, special dietary needs, viral vectors, and poor fecundity. Special handling may incur surcharges for maintenance care.
• If euthanasia is required for animals on the Holding Protocol, the AV or their designee will perform it using appropriate methods as described in the protocol.