The IACUC derives its authority from the Law as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 and the Animal Welfare Act (Public Law 99-158) and is charged with developing and monitoring University policies and standards pertaining to animal acquisition, care and use. San Jose State University has established an IACUC, which is qualified through the training and expertise of its members to oversee the institution's animal care and use program, university facilities, and all animal-related activities.
It is the Animal Care Facility Operations Manager (ACFOM) who oversees and coordinates the business of the IACUC, supervises the veterinary staff, coordinates professional and technical support contracts with investigative teams, animal procurement and investigator training. The ACFOM is responsible for implementing professionally acceptable standards for the proper care and use of all animals within all animal facilities, and assures that those standards are being met. Veterinary health concerns and physical plant matters related to the Animal Care Facilities are to be relayed to the ACFOM to be conveyed to either the Campus Veterinarian, Dean of the College of Science, or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee as appropriate.
The Campus Veterinarian (or Attending Veterinarian) will have delegated responsibility for the health and well-being of all animals involved in University activities. The Campus Veterinarian will have unlimited access to all animal use areas with due respect for the demands of research and teaching in progress and will approve all training programs for animal users. The Campus Veterinarian will have the authority to suspend any activity involving animals when the health of the animals or investigators is deemed inappropriately in jeopardy, including those with a protocol approved by the IACUC. All consulting veterinarians shall carry out their duties, as part of the Animal Care Program as outlined in the Program of Veterinary Care on file in the University Animal Care office.
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The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is responsible to ensure the humane care and use of animals, as well as personnel safety, for all University activities. The use of animals may be associated with teaching, research, training, experimentation, artistic display, biological testing, and related protocols involving live animals or their parts while conducted at this University, or at any other institution as a consequence of the sub-granting or subcontracting of an activity by this institution as defined in University Policy F06-4 (and subsequent revisions thereof). Investigators are encouraged to contact the University Animal Care office for advise as to the appropriate submission form for use of animal subjects or their parts prior to initiating the project.
The IACUC will not conduct retroactive review or approval of any animal-related activity that has already been completed or is considered ongoing. If you have any questions as to whether a proposed project would require IACUC review and approval, please contact the IACUC coordinator for advice.
Faculty and students of San Jose State University who consider it essential to use animals in their research, teaching, testing or display, whether in the laboratory, classroom or in the field, must adhere to humane principles for the use of animals set forth by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The protocol for animal use will address all aspects of veterinary care, animal husbandry, procedural manipulations, chemical usage, physical and psychological well-being of the animals, euthanasia, personnel experience and training, and personnel safety and must be approved by the IACUC before the project commences.
Individuals who intend to use non-living animal tissues (including scat, feathers, hair, bone, etc.) or archived specimens shared by consulting individuals, whether within or outside the University, may complete an independent submission, Abbreviated component for the use of non-living tissues. The IACUC must approve projects that involve the receipt or analysis of tissues or specimens shared from collaborators at outside institutions for the purpose of evaluating sample acquisition methods, including appropriate permits. Proper knowledge and documentation regarding date, time, and circumstances of tissue or specimen collection is mandatory. Serendipitous contributions to collections (e.g., road kills) are also subject to appropriate record-keeping regulations.
For the use of invertebrate species, the IACUC requires review and approval of projects that entail permission from a government agency to access, collect, or deploy the species being studied, even if specimens are obtained commercially using the Abbreviated component for use of invertebrates or fertile eggs. The provision for IACUC approval of invertebrate studies also extends to work involving animal species considered venomous or a threat to public health, endangered, threatened or of special concern [Endangered Species Act, 1972] and for projects involving invertebrate species in which the pain and distress category is considered a category level V (as defined by the IACUC for vertebrate species; see project categorization of pain and distress in laboratory animals below). All other invertebrate studies do not require IACUC review and approval. However, it is highly recommended (or as otherwise requested by SJSU Foundation or the Office of Graduate Studies and Research) that investigators pursue committee approval for graduate or research projects to be kept on file with the University Animal Care office.
The IACUC does require review and approval for the handling of fertile vertebrate eggs. Either a standard animal care and use protocol application or abbreviated submission form, Abbreviated component for use of invertebrates or fertile eggs, may be required depending on the species being studied and the proposed stage of embryonic development manipulations will occur. Determination as to which submission form is most appropriate will occur upon consultation with the Animal Care Facilities Operations Manager prior to IACUC consideration.
For observational studies that do not involve handling or disturbing of a live animal in its natural habitat, the IACUC requires review and approval of projects that would entail permission from a government agency to approach the species being studied or to gain regional access to conduct the study using the Abbreviated component for observational studies. All other observational studies do not require IACUC review and approval. However, it is highly recommended (or as otherwise requested by SJSU Foundation or the office of Graduate Studies and Research) that investigators pursue committee approval for graduate or research projects to be kept on file with the University Animal Care office.
For proposed studies involving the manipulation of live vertebrate animals, the standard Protocol for animal care and use must be completed. Investigators are to follow the protocol Application Instructions and recommendations for Project Categorization of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals, and are encouraged to have the Animal Care Facilities Operations Manager or the Campus Veterinarian preview their completed application in effort to expedite IACUC review of the proposal.
In cases where there is question as to whether or not IACUC approval is required for a proposed animal activity, investigators are to contact the University Animal Care office for advice. Upon consultation with the ACFOM, the Principal Investigator of a proposed study involving animals may be asked complete a Request for IACUC approval exemption. If applicable, the ACFOM will issue a notice of project exemption from IACUC review and approval upon consultation with the IACUC Chairperson. The notice of project exemption will be provided to the Principal Investigator, SJSU Foundation, Graduate Studies and Research or outside agencies to satisfy any legal or institutional requirement for use of animal subjects as requested.
Abbreviated Component for Use of Non-living Tissues (pdf)
Abbreviated Component for Invertebrate Species or Fertile Eggs (pdf)
Abbreviated Component for Observational Studies (pdf)
Guidelines for Conducting a Literature Search for Animal Care (pdf)
Protocol for Animal Care and Use (pdf)
Protocol Application Instructions (pdf)
Project Categorization of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals (pdf)
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The IACUC meets regularly on the third Friday of every month to discuss routine business. IACUC meetings are considered closed-sessions and outside attendance to convened meetings are by invitation or otherwise approved by the committee Chairperson. The projected meeting dates are subject to change without prior notice.
| Projected IACUC Meeting Dates for AY 2007-08 | Deadline for Live Vertebrate Use Submissions* | Deadline for Abbreviated Submissions * | Deadline for Protocol Modification Requests* |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 24, 2007 | August 3 | August 20 | August 20 |
| September 21, 2007 | September 3 | September 17 | September 17 |
| October 12, 2007 | September 24 | October 8 | October 8 |
| November 16, 2007 | October 29 | November 12 | November 12 |
| December 21, 2007 | December 3 | December 17 | December 17 |
| January 18, 2008 | January 2 | January 14 | January 14 |
| February 15, 2008 | January 28 | February 11 | February 11 |
| March 21, 2008 | March 3 | March 17 | March 17 |
| April 18, 2008 | August 27 | September 3 | September 3 |
| May 16, 2008 | April 28 | May 12 | May 12 |
| June 20, 2008 | June 2 | June 16 | June 16 |
| July 18, 2008 | June 30 | July 14 | July 14 |
* Completed applications and requests received by the IACUC coordinator by the appropriate submission deadline will be placed on the next scheduled meeting agenda. Submissions received after the specified deadline will not be guaranteed for review or consideration by the IACUC at the earliest meeting. Call 408-924-4929 with any questions about protocol submissions or alteration requests.
All active protocols for animal care and use must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC annually. The IACUC coordinator will provide the Principal Investigator of a study the appropriate annual review request information approximately 2 months before the protocol anniversary date. Investigators are to respond to all committee requests listed on the annual review cover letter and the 2-paged annual review form provided. Failure by the Principal Investigator to respond to the request for annual review by the IACUC will result in immediate suspension of IACUC approval for the use of animal subjects in an ongoing study. Questions concerning annual review documents should be directed to the IACUC coordinator.
IACUC Coordinator, Larry Young, 408-924-4929
IACUC Chairperson, Dr. Ronald Rogers, 408-924-5652
Campus Veterinarian, Dr. Rosemary Broome, 650-846-0508
Policy and Assurance for the Humane Care and Use of Animals at San Jose State University
Guidelines for Humane Euthanasia of Animals (pdf)
Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species Wild Fauna and Flora
| Any person may anonymously report concerns related to animal care and use at San Jose State University or Moss Landing Marine Laboratories by contacting the IACUC Coordinator, the Campus Veterinarian, or the IACUC Chairperson |
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The IACUC will review all concerns involving reports or complaints of noncompliance with regulations or institutional policies involving the care and use of animals at the institution. The IACUC procedures for reviewing concerns are:
1) A contact number of the UAC office shall be posted in relevant locations throughout the animal care facilities to inform the campus community how to anonymously relay and report concerns.
2) The IACUC will not consider, accept or conduct retroactive review of animal protocol applications for sponsored, experimental or other academic activities involving the use of animals if the animal use aspect of the project has been completed or is considered ongoing. Ongoing activities involving animals that are not approved by the IACUC must immediately be halted and reported to the IACUC for proper investigation and action. Activities that involve the use of animals that have not been previously approved by the IACUC and become evident to the committee must be investigated and reported to the Institutional Official for recommended action.
3) The IACUC chairperson, Institutional Official and the Campus Veterinarian shall promptly review all concerns initially in efforts to maintain the reporting individual’s identity, and if warranted, appoint a subcommittee to perform an IACUC investigation. Review any subcommittee findings at a convened meeting and take appropriate action up to and including suspension of a protocol and notification of the Institutional Official for possible disciplinary action.
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