Research & Research Study

Guidelines to Establish/Modify Animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) Holding Facilities

Preamble

The University is committed to ensuring the highest standards of research and integrity of scholarly work undertaken at the institution, as well as its overarching responsibilities to foster and uphold the foremost principles of ethical conduct in research. This commitment extends beyond any formal or statutory obligations and requirements.

While recognising the significance and value of research involving living organisms, the University also has a duty of care to its employees, its students and to any visitors to its campus. Research on living organisms may necessitate the holding and containment of such organisms on campus for scientific and behavioural study. The University, its Divisions and Departments, and individual researchers and students must ensure that such research is carried out with all due responsibility, care and consideration for all researchers and other users of the campus.

Guidelines

These guidelines are restricted to proposals requesting the housing of vertebrate and invertebrate animals and do not apply to the containment of micro-organisms* . These guidelines are applicable irrespective of the source of funding for the proposals, including external grant schemes, Research Infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG), Major Equipment grants, submissions for Minor Works funding, Divisional and Department funding etc.

* Information regarding the containment of micro-organisms are available on the University’s Biosafety Committee Web site (http://www.research.mq.edu.au/ethics/biosafety/) and statutory regulations are published by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

Before embarking upon the establishment/modification of facilities for the housing or containment of animals (both vertebrate and invertebrate), researchers should carefully consider all of the implications arising from such a course of action. These include, but are not restricted to:

• What holding facilities are required?
• Are suitable facilities already available on campus (or reasonably accessible elsewhere)?
• If not, what steps are necessary to provide suitable facilities, what is the cost, and who will bear that cost?
• If new facilities are required, what steps will be made to maintain those facilities, once they are established? Who will bear these maintenance costs?
• What risks (however remote) do the subject animals present to (a) humans, and (b) other animals? (e.g. Do they intrinsically represent a potential hazard? Can they act as vectors for disease? And so on.)
• Does the containment of the subject animal species impinge in any way upon (a) human and (b) other existing animal species on campus?

The following headings and notes have been provided to assist researchers in preparing submissions to establish/modify housing or containment facilities for vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

Criteria to be addressed in preparing submissions to establish/modify animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) holding facilities:

Type of animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) to be housed
State the species and approximate numbers of animals that would be housed. This could be provided as a breakdown over several years and/or as an indication of how many animals might be housed at any one time.

Location
The applicant must indicate where the proposed facility is to be located. Evidence must also be provided of negotiation with relevant bodies/committee’s to indicate approval for the site to be located on the proposed premises. In discussing the location of the facility, reference should also be made to the relative proximity of the proposed facility to other University buildings, animals, public spaces occupied by humans etc. If possible a map should be attached indicating the location of the proposed facility in relation to its surroundings. A statement should also be made regarding the likely impact of the facility on its surroundings.

Construction and Installation
The applicant should discuss what consultations have been undertaken regarding the construction and installation of the facilities. A significant part of this process should be liaison with the Office of Facilities Management. Any written agreements, quotes etc should be attached to this proposal.

Occupational Health and Safety
The applicant should briefly discuss any potential occupational health and safety issues that may arise in relation to the facility. For instance is there potential for the spread of diseases, are the animals dangerous/poisonous, have considerations been made regarding the provision of training for students involved in the facility, have considerations been made regarding emergency procedures in the design of the facility, such as exits, fire extinguishers etc. Although a detailed set of standing operating procedures would not be required at this stage, the applicant must demonstrate that these issues have been considered.

Security
The applicant should demonstrate what security requirements may be necessary for the facility.

Ongoing Management and Maintenance
The applicant should provide a brief outline of the ongoing management plan for the facility. This should address issues such as management of the animal population, any ongoing costs, maintenance costs etc. The applicant should also indicate whether there are any implications for the Office of Facilities Management and if these have been discussed with the relevant people.

Ethical issues in research involving animals (vertebrates)
If the proposed facility is to house animals (vertebrates) that are covered under the Animal Research Act and Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, the researcher should address steps that have been taken to meet the requirements of the Legislation and Code, as well as considerations given to obtaining the relevant licences and authorities.

Indirect implications for animal ethics issues
Although the animals to be housed in the proposed facility may not be covered under the code or legislation, i.e.: they are invertebrates, there may be some indirect ethical issues directly related to animals covered by the Code and Legislation that may have to be considered. For instance, if the facility is to be housed on premises that already house animals covered by the code then consideration must be given to the impact of this facility on these animals, the extent of interaction with these animals, possible spread of disease etc.

General statement regarding the use of animals (vertebrate and invertebrate) and the provision of appropriate housing conditions
A general statement regarding the ability to provide housing conditions that would ensure the welfare of animals held in the facility. This is in recognition of the intrinsic value of life of all living organisms, and the necessity to maintain the wellbeing of animals (for instance, the applicant might wish to discuss the maintenance of good physical, emotional and/or psychological condition in the animal, or freedom/reduction from stress etc) in order to be of any benefit to the research.

Any other supporting documentation
This could include photographs or designs of proposed structures.

Macquarie University Research Office Cover Sheet
The Macquarie University Research Office Cover Sheet must be attached to the front of the proposal. The researcher should ensure that all relevant signatures are obtained prior to submission.

• Macquarie University Research Office Cover Sheet ~ rtf

Application Procedure for the Consideration of Proposals to Establish/Modify Animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) Holding Facilities

It is acknowledged that there will be some fluidity in the order of the various consultations/discussions that will occur as the researcher/s negotiate the viability of the proposed facility or modification. This may therefore necessarily involve a reiterative process of consultation before a formal submission can be made. The procedures below have been developed to assist researchers through the formal process of obtaining approval to establish/modify animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) holding facilities.

In the procedures described below any reference to “animal/s” will imply both vertebrates and invertebrates unless specified otherwise.

1. For Facilities/Modifications to Facilities Supported by External Funding Schemes
   
   It will be a Macquarie University Condition of Offer that a copy of the letter of approval from the Animal Facilities Committee, for a proposal addressing the criteria in the Guidelines to Establish/Modify Animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) Holding Facilities, be lodged at the Research Office, before funds will be released. Please note that funding WILL NOT be released until these approvals are obtained.

2. For Facilities/ Modifications to Facilities Supported by Internal Funding Schemes
   
   A proposal addressing the criteria set out in the Guidelines to Establish/Modify Animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) Holding Facilities above, must be attached as an annexure to the grant application at the time of submission. The application will be deemed ineligible if this annexure is not provided.

3. Approval from the Animal Facilities Committee
   
   Once funding has been approved, a proposal addressing the criteria set out in the Guidelines to Establish/Modify Animal (vertebrate and invertebrate) Holding Facilities, along with the letter of offer should be lodged with the Animal Facilities Committee.

Researchers are generally encouraged to consult widely in the preparation of their submissions, particularly with the Office of Facilities Management in relation to construction, installation and maintenance.

Once the application has received approval by the Animal Facilities Committee, the proposal must be lodged with the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) for noting. This must be prior to the commencement of any construction/modification of the facility.

Submissions to the Animal Facilities Committee can be lodged with: