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Post Approval Monitoring

Continuing Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversight of animal activities is required by the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy (IV.C), the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide, pgs. 33-34), and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (subpart C,2.321(d)).

Post-approval Monitoring (PAM) is one method of continuing IACUC oversight of animal activities. A PAM program helps ensure that animal research remains compliant with the approved protocol and institutional guidelines, supports animal welfare and the humane treatment of animals and may also provide opportunities to improve or refine research procedures.

PAM can be carried out in several ways, including:

  • Regular reviews of approved protocols.
  • Inspections of laboratories and animal housing areas.
  • Routine observation by veterinary staff, animal care staff, and IACUC members.
  • External regulatory inspections, assessments, and site visits.

MSU’s PAM Program is designed to foster a positive research culture by striving to establish a collaborative/collegial and educational partnership with PIs and their research teams to promote and ensure:

  • Animal welfare,
  • Protocol compliance (i.e., accurate and consistent adherence to the approved protocol),
  • High-quality research, and
  • The exchange of information, such as new policies, regulations, and guidelines that may affect protocol compliance and or best practices.

PAM plays a key role in maintaining ethical and compliant animal research. By combining oversight methods like protocol reviews, facility visits, and direct communication with research teams, PAM helps ensure animal welfare and research integrity.

  • Be Prepared
    A typical laboratory visit includes the IACUC Research Liaison and sometimes an EHS representative and an additional IACUC member.
    • These visits are most successful if the investigator and senior laboratory staff attend.
    • All members of the laboratory are welcome to participate.
    • It is essential that someone is available that is familiar with all animal-related research that occurs in the laboratory.


    Schedule

    • All animal housing and surgical or procedure areas are inspected on a semiannual basis.
    • Please allow 30 minutes for a lab visit.


    Checklists

  • IACUC Topics

    The focus is a review of the activities in your laboratory as described in your Animal Use Form(s).

    • IACUC animal use form on site
    • Training log for personnel in which their training for specific animal procedures such as catheterization, surgery, etc. is clearly defined with date, trainer and procedures.
    • All personnel involved in animal work are listed on the animal use form
    • Whistleblower poster visible
    • Gas Anesthetics scavenged
    • Drug storage and expiration dates checked
    • Drugs listed are consistent with usage
    • Species consistent with animal use form
    • Use of animal consistent with animal use form
    • Surgical and post-operative records available
    • Aseptic technique used
    • Post surgical analgesia given
    • Animal health records available
    • Euthanasia performed consistent with animal use form
    • Adverse consequences documented
    • Special diets used/storage
    • Training in endpoints, illness
  • EHS Topics
    • Use of personal protective equipment
    • Hazard communication
    • Safety training
    • Procedures relating to controlled substances including use, recordkeeping, security
    • Regulated waste management and pathological waste disposal
    • Use of engineering controls in conjunction with potentially hazardous materials
    • Participation in Occupational Health Program
    • Other safety related items as applicable to the protocol
  • Follow-Up
    • A status report of the visit sent to the investigator
    • Corrective actions necessary for minor and/or significant deficiencies
    • Recommendations for improvement
    • An abbreviated report presented at the monthly IACUC meeting
    • Possible PHS Report*


    *While our goal is to help you achieve your scientific goals while maintaining compliance, we are required to report any serious and continuing non compliance on PHS funded activities.

IACUC