Animal Care and Use Committees (ACUC)

The University Animal Policy and Welfare Committee (UAPWC) has established several Animal Care and Use Committees (ACUCs) in order to ensure institutional standards for animal care and use meet or exceed CCAC guidelines.

ACUCs operate according to the Animal Ethics Policy and Procedures and use the Alberta Research Information Services (ARISE) system.

Normally, University Faculty members must obtain approval from one of the University ACUCs. In general, studies involving animal use should be reviewed by the ACUC with the most relevant expertise and most closely connected to the Animal Services Unit that will provide veterinary oversight. In cases of overlapping expertise, the ACUCs can and do refer applications to one another and consult with other committee members and/or animal services personnel. The final decision as to which committee reviews a study will be made by the ACUCs.

ACUC Connect - Virtual Office Hours

  • Starting your research journey and wondering if you need an Animal Use Protocol?
  • Seeking renewal or amendment support?
  • Questions about the Animal Care and Use Committees?
  • Curious about CCAC guidelines?

Our dedicated Animal Care and Use Specialists are available to answer your burning questions! No agendas, no formalities, just real live people waiting for you to step into the “office.”

Every Friday from 9-11 am
Join Zoom

(requires login with your UAlberta email/password via the Google button — see login help)

Biosciences

Reviews animal use applications supported by the expertise and facilities of the Sciences Animal Support Services (SASS). These research or teaching protocols are related to biological sciences and psychology, but also include basic biomedical studies, wildlife and field studies, and aquatics.

Research Methods/Keywords

  • Xenopus, fish, birds, rodents, rabbits
  • Wildlife and field studies
  • Aquatics
  • Basic biomedical studies
  • Psychology

Livestock

ACUC Livestock reviews research and teaching associated with the facilities of the Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Sciences Animal Service (AFNSAS). This commonly includes studies using farm production animals, small animal models for biomedical research, and related to human nutrition research. 

Research Methods/Keywords

  • Swine, poultry and ruminants
  • Farm production animals/ livestock
  • Human nutrition research

Health Sciences

There are two ACUC Health Sciences committees, both of which review research or teaching associated with the facilities of the Health Sciences Laboratory Animal Services (HSLAS). ACUC: Health Sciences 1 generally reviews less invasive health sciences and biomedical studies assigned to the CCAC Category of Invasiveness B. ACUC: Health Sciences 2 generally reviews more invasive studies (i.e., those with a CCAC Category of Invasiveness C-E).

Health Sciences 1

Research Methods/Keywords

  • Laboratory animals, primarily rodents
  • Generally reviews studies with a CCAC Category of Invasiveness B
  • Acute non-recovery studies
  • Studies with new transgenic animals that would otherwise be considered Category B Invasiveness
  • Health sciences
  • Biomedical studies

Health Sciences 2

Research Methods/Keywords

  • Laboratory animals, primarily rodents and larger mammals
  • Generally reviews studies with a CCAC Category of Invasiveness C-E
  • Invasive recovery surgical studies
  • Studies with multiple invasive procedures