Animal Care Committee
Purpose
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (hereinafter referred to as "CCAC") is the national organization that is responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the care and use of animals in science in Canada. The CCAC requires that institutions conducting animal-based research, teaching or testing establish an animal care committee and that it be functionally active.
Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is committed to the humane and ethical care and use of animals. To ensure that the highest standards in the care and use of animals for research and teaching are upheld, CMU has established an animal care committee (ACC).
CMU's Animal Care Program - Protocol Submission and Review
Peer Review
Prior to the ACC's assessment of proposals for ethics and to ensure that the highest standards in the care and use of animals for research and teaching are upheld, peer review for scientific or pedagogical merit must take place as a first step.
For teaching proposals, CMU's Curriculum Committee will review and assess protocols for pedagogical merit prior to approval. For research proposals, an independent peer-review undertaken by a rotating committee of CMU science faculty will occur to review and assess protocols for pedagogical merit prior to approval.
Protocol Submission Process
1. Principle Investigator (PI) will access the relevant submission form from the Research Office.
2. Fully completed application forms are to be typed, then signed by the PI.
3. The application, with all supporting documentation, is submitted to the ACC Coordinator via email. Due to the limited nature of animal work at CMU, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The ACC Coordinator will assign the application a protocol number and check the form for completion.
4. The ACC Coordinator will call an official ACC meeting.
5. The ACC will discuss protocols and make decisions on them during full committee meetings, rather than through individual reviews. Comments from committee members who cannot attend the meeting will be considered;
- The ACC shall attempt to reach decisions by consensus, as opposed to voting;
- All committee discussions, recommendations and decisions shall be documented in the committee minutes and on attachments to the protocol forms;
- The ACC Coordinator will notify the principal instructor/investigator in writing of the committee's decision.
- If desired, either the investigator(s) or the committee may request an opportunity
for the investigator to meet with the CMU ACC before a final decision is reached. Investigators may not be present when formal deliberations occur.
Protocol Renewals
- Protocols are approved for one year. For protocols continuing beyond this period, complete the Annual Renewal Form each year and submit it to the ACC Coordinator. The ACC requires the submission of a new protocol after a maximum of three consecutive renewals (i.e., after the fourth year).
- Annual protocol renewals may be delegated to a protocol review subcommittee, which must include at least one scientific member, one veterinarian, and one community representative, one of which should preferably be the ACC chair.
Amendments of Active Protocols
Changes to active protocols are considered amendments. Protocol authors should first contact the Coordinator with their intention to amend a protocol to clarify requirements and effect change efficiently and compliantly. Communication between the Coordinator, the Consulting Veterinarian, and the ACC Chair is essential to the provision and sharing of consistent and valid information and advice.
There are two kinds of amendments: minor and major. To amend an approved protocol, the protocol author completes the Amendment & Renewal form and completes all applicable sections for an amendment, according to the instructions on the form, and submits to the ACC according to the instructions on the form.
CMU ACC Documents
CMU Standard Operating Procedures 
Please contact the CMU Research Office for all ACC-related forms.
CMU's Animal Care Committee Members
| Name | Affiliation | ACC Role |
|---|---|---|
| John Brubacher | CMU Associate Professor of Biology | Chair |
| Rachel Krause | CMU Associate Professor of Biology | Member |
| Jodi Dueck-Read * | CMU Director of Research & Program Grants | Coordinator |
| TBD | CMU Science Student | Student |
| Esther Derksen | Regional Veterinarian, Province of Newfoundland | Consulting Veterinarian |
| Katie Reeves * | CMU Lab Steward | Member, Lab Steward |
| Tim Crouch | Community Member, Minister at Young United Church | Community Representative |
| * = ex officio | ||
Printed from: ftp.cmu.ca/research-office/animal-care-committee