Role

Responsibility

Researchers using animals
(including employees, affiliates , visitors, and subcontractors who propose or conduct research that involves animals or animal-derived material such as antibodies or tissues)

• Safeguard the welfare of animals used in their research
• Complete required Ethical Training for researchers at LBNL
• Develop protocols for and obtain AWRC approval
• Ensure that staff working under the protocol(s) are trained
• Follow approved protocols, file renewals in a timely fashion, and promptly report problems to the AWRC

Animal Welfare and Research Committee (AWRC)

• Establishes and maintains an Animal Welfare Assurance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
• Conducts a semiannual facility inspection and animal welfare program review
• Reviews research proposals to ensure the protection of animals used in research
• Monitors ongoing animal research
• Educates Berkeley Lab researchers using animals and other staff, as needed
• Reports unanticipated problems and adverse events to the Institutional Official and Laboratory Director
• Recommends changes in Laboratory policy relevant to research animal welfare to the Institutional Official
• Certifies to funding agencies and/or the Strategic Partnership Office that research has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Attending Veterinarian

• Oversees all activities involving animals at Berkeley Lab
• Conducts routine inspections and monitors ongoing animal research
• Consults with and provides training for animal care and research staff as needed
• Serves as a member of the AWRC
• Temporarily suspends or interrupts research that is not conducted in accordance with AWRC decisions, conditions, and requirements or that has been associated with unexpected experimental failure or suffering to animals
• Recommends changes in Laboratory policy relevant to research animal welfare to the AWRC and/or the Institutional Official

Institutional Official for animal welfare

• Signs the Animal Welfare Assurance on behalf of the Laboratory
• Receives the semiannual inspection and program review report from the AWRC
• With the AWRC Chair, signs the annual report to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
• Appoints members to the AWRC
• Suspends or terminates research that is not conducted in accordance with AWRC decisions, conditions, and requirements or that has been associated with unexpected failure or suffering to animals
• Approves changes in Laboratory policy relevant to research involving animals
• Ensures support to the AWRC, the Attending Veterinarian and the HARC Office sufficient to carry out their responsibilities

Human and Animal Regulatory Committees (HARC) Staff

• Facilitate and support the AWRC, researchers, and the Institutional Official in carrying out their responsibilities
• Oversees the Human/Animal Research Protocol Management System (HARP)

Term

Definition

PHS Policy

Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; the implementing guidance for federally funded research involving animals

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

The Guide is published by the National Research Council of the National Academies and defines the framework for a compliant animal care and use program.

Animal Welfare Act

Public Law 89-544, 1966, as amended, (P.L. 91-579, P.L. 94-279, and P.L. 99-198) 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.; the federal law regulating the treatment of covered animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

A board or committee authorized by a federal assurance to review research involving animals. The AWRC is the Berkeley Lab Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Institutional Official for animal welfare

The Berkeley Lab official who signs the Animal Welfare Assurance, committing the institution to following the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Animals

Animal Welfare Assurance

The written, binding agreement submitted to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare in which the institution commits to complying with regulations governing the use of animals in research and stipulates the procedures through which compliance will be achieved

Human/Animal Research Protocol Management System (HARP)

The system housing online "smart" forms that lead researchers through protocol application, renewal, modification, and adverse/unexpected event reporting processes

Responsible Party

Record

Animal Welfare and Research Committee (AWRC)

Conducts a semiannual facility inspection and animal welfare program review, and reports the outcome to the Institutional Official

Institutional Official and AWRC Chair

Reports annually to the PHS Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare on the status of the animal welfare program