Animals in research
Procedure for Submission of Proposal for Animal Research
This covers research involving all vertebrate and cephalopod species carried out within University premises and in the field, both within the UK and abroad, i.e. work done anywhere in the name of the University of St Andrews.
The Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee (AWEC) must be informed of all vertebrate and cephalopod animal research work being carried out by both students and employees of the University of St Andrews.
This includes all collaborative work which might lead to a publication affiliated to the University of St Andrews.
Any proposed licensed or non-licensed animal research work to be undertaken within University animal facilities must be discussed in the first instance with the relevant Facility Manager and relevant NACWO before the work is started.
In respect of research proposals, both within or outwith University animal facilities, which might involve licensing under the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) you should make contact in the first instance with the Home Office Liaison Officer (HOLO) (telephone 01334 462527).
It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to provide information on behalf of his/her students and research staff. Independent Research Fellows are required to complete this record personally.
In the case of non-licensed animal research proposals, both within and outwith the University animal facilities, the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee requires a form to be completed and submitted to the relevant School Ethics Committee (SEC) - either Biology (bioethics@st-andrews.ac.uk), Psychology (psyethics@st-andrews.ac.uk) or Medicine (medethics@st-andrews.ac.uk) - detailing all proposed animal work prior to such work being undertaken. See Animal ethics form. In the case of the Medicine Ethics Committee the application form will then be forwarded to either the Biology or the Psychology Ethics Committee, whichever is the most appropriate for that proposal. Researchers in Schools other than Biology, Psychology or Medicine should submit the completed application form to the Home Office Liaison Officer (telephone 01334 462527).
In all cases, copies of documentation, should be appended to the proposal, showing that licences, permits to work, memorandum of understanding (or equivalent) have been obtained.
The attention of all researchers is drawn to the new University Teaching Research and Ethics Committee (UTREC) guidelines on ethical issues related to all funded research.
