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IG005: Management of Animals from Expired Protocols

IACUC Guideline Number: IG005, Approved By: IACUC, Approval Date: 9/12/2024, Version: 3

All animals intended for use in research, testing, and teaching or for related purposes at MSU are to be housed under an active and approved protocol or farm SOP. Absolutely no research, teaching, or testing activities can be conducted under an expired or suspended protocol.

Occasionally, situations occur where protocols become inactive (e.g., protocol approval expires, protocol is suspended), but animals remain in animal housing facilities. When protocols become inactive, biomedical animals become the responsibility of Campus Animal Resources (CAR) under the CAR dedicated holding protocol while agricultural animals are maintained on the appropriate Farm’s SOP.

To avoid forfeiture of their animals, investigators are required to take the necessary actions to gain re-approval of their animal use protocol within 60 days of the date the protocol became inactive. In those instances, where a new protocol has not been approved within the 60 days, the IACUC will determine a course of action at their next scheduled meeting; the PI will be notified of this action.

Conditions for the CAR Holding Protocol:

The IACUC notifies the PI on the protocol and the corresponding department chair (by e-mail) when an animal use protocol has expired, and the animals are to be transferred to the CAR holding protocol; fees will be incurred for CAR labor for this transfer and printing of new cage cards for biomedical animals. Any research use of animals housed under the CAR holding protocol will be treated as serious regulatory non-compliance. Agricultural animals housed under the farm SOP may be used for research, teaching or testing if covered on another approved protocol.

While animals are housed on the CAR holding protocol the following conditions apply:

  • Housing Only: No experimental manipulations or breeding are allowed. The CAR holding protocol is limited to animal housing.
  • Per Diem Charges: Per diem charges for animals on the holding protocol are the responsibility of the investigator and their department.
  • Labeling: A holding protocol sign or cagecard is posted on the rack/cage and/or housing door.
  • Animal Care: CAR or farm personnel will assume responsibility for the animals and will arrange for routine husbandry and veterinary care as needed.  Medical treatment and/or euthanasia will be performed by, and at the discretion of, CAR or farm personnel.

Removal of Animals from Holding Protocol: When a new protocol has been approved, the PI should contact CAR to transfer animals from the holding protocol to the approved protocol.