Sign Up to receive free weekly articles like these

I’m considering switching institutions — how can I get an idea of how cooperative the new IACUC will be?

Reader Question: I'm thinking of changing institutions. I've always had a good relationship with the IACUC at my current one and want to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition to the new committee. What positive signs should I look for from them? What questions should I ask to get an idea of how cooperative they will be?

Expert Comments:

It is an excellent sign that you have a good relationship with your current IACUC. At whatever institution you may find yourself, you should view this committee and its support staffs as a resource to help you optimize the quality of care for your research animals and minimize their stress.

The key people to get to know are the attending veterinarian(s), IACUC chair and other institutional representatives who can help you provide optimal animal care and guide you in observing the institution’s policies. If you are cooperative, they should aid you in following, not only the letter, but also the intent of the animal-care regulations.

When switching institutions, here are some steps for determining how cooperative a new IACUC might be:

1. Speak first with those just mentioned, explaining that you look forward to cooperating with them as well as you do with your current IACUC. Do they consider themselves helpful resources for their research scientists? A good sign of this would be that they seem engaged and eager to play an important role in your work. They should show high interest as you explain what your research is and why it is important.

If not, they may be concerned only (or mainly) with compliance issues. That's a red flag.

2. Talk privately with other researchers using animals similar to yours. Ask if they’ve found the IACUC to be helpful, so long as you are cooperative and open. Unfortunately, some IACUC groups become "animal police," who prefer to catch you in violations rather than help you avoid violations while meeting your research objectives and providing optimal care to your animals.

Naturally, back away from an institution with this kind of IACUC. You should get a good idea from the other researchers which kind of IACUC guides the animal research at the new institution.

3. Examine the stated mission or objectives of the new IACUC, based on responses from its members and from the other researchers. It should embody these principles:

• It is important to recognize that, to be worthy of working with living creatures, especially mammals, researchers must optimize their care and minimize their stress. This makes good sense from the perspective of experimental design as well as compassion. Always remember that stress adds uncontrolled variables to your experiment.
  
• Of course, we should do our best to minimize numbers of mammals by using math models, tissue cultures and simple organisms when practical. For many questions, however, and for translational studies, mammals are required.
  
• Besides treating them with respect, we must treat them in a manner appropriate to their species, avoiding anthropomorphism. For example, when given the choice, mice spend most of their rest time in crowded piles. Also, mice must eat fecal material for healthy intestinal flora.

If members of the new committee and researchers are amenable to these ideas and think along these lines, you probably have the kind of IACUC you are looking for at the new institution.

Expert comments by David E. Harrison, PhD, professor and senior staff scientist, the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.

Like this article? Get more in your FREE issue of Laboratory Animal Welfare Compliance.