Inter-Institutional Agreement for Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, developed an Inter-Institutional Agreement for Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals.

Collaborations among institutions can bring greater expertise and resources to address vertebrate research, teaching or outreach objectives. However, such collaborations can result in uncertainty about which individuals and institutions are responsible for oversight and activities pertaining to the humane care, use and final disposition of vertebrate study subjects. Inter-institutional Agreements are intended to assure that collaborative activities using vertebrate animals receive appropriate Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) review, that all parties involved are aware of their respective roles in providing for humane care and use of study subjects, and that a communication system is in place to meet federally required compliance and reporting requirements (e.g., facility inspections, biannual review of protocols, protocol modifications). Inter-institutional agreements also reduce the potential that investigators will be subject to redundant, but potentially conflicting, protocols at their respective institutions.

Examples of when this form should be used:

• A UMaine investigator wishes to be covered under an approved protocol in place at a collaborating university or other research/teaching center. The UMaine investigator must be specified in the other institution’s protocol. This agreement would eliminate the need for the UMaine investigator to submit a protocol to the UMaine IACUC.
• A collaborating investigator from another university or research/teaching center wishes to be covered under an approved UMaine protocol. That investigator must be specified in the UMaine protocol. This agreement may eliminate the need for the collaborating investigator to submit a protocol to her/his institution’s IACUC if the other institution agrees to those conditions.
• UMaine investigator collaborates with a state or federal agency (e.g., Fish & Wildlife Service). State or federal agencies may have jurisdictional priority over capture, handling, euthanasia or release of animals they manage, and their activities or requirements may conflict with those sought by a UMaine investigator (e.g., euthanasia of a protected species). This agreement clarifies institutional roles in ways that may not be defined in permits and aids the IACUC in protocol review/approval by providing information on which project elements are under the investigator’s control.
• UMaine is contracted to conduct animal research for industry. Industry collaborations may entail written or implied agreements concerning animal ownership or disposition, as well as proprietary restrictions on materials, animal products or data. This agreement can help clarify investigator/industry expectations and thus avoid disputes. It can also serve to aid the IACUC in protocol review/approval by providing information on which project elements are under the investigator’s control.
• UMaine researchers conduct research with private animal owners. For example, animal husbandry on private farms can differ from procedures typically approved for research or teaching and private property rights may limit investigator options concerning handling, euthanasia and final disposition. This agreement clarifies roles and can aid the IACUC in protocol review/approval by providing information on which project elements are under the investigator’s control

NOTE: The submission of an inter-institutional agreement does not guarantee that the terms of the agreement, or associated IACUC protocol elements, will be approved by the IACUC, the UMaine institutional official (Vice President for Research) or the signatory with authority for the collaborating institution. Investigators seeking coverage under another institution’s IACUC protocol or collaborating investigators seeking coverage under a UMaine protocol are not permitted to conduct associated research until both the protocol and agreement form are approved. You should also be aware that either UMaine or the collaborating institution may request documentation or conduct reviews to verify compliance and may terminate the agreement with written notice.

Inter-Institutional Agreement (Word)

Please contact the UMaine IACUC office with questions.