The University Animal Care Committee (UACC) site is supported by the Animal Compliance Team in the Office of Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations).
Anyone who needs to work with live animals in research and teaching must obtain approval prior to acquiring and handling animals. The process may take up to two months for complex projects.
The following steps are to be followed by reseachers and instructors wishing to work with animals:
- Complete an Animal Use Protocol form either:
- Submit to the local Facility Animal Care Committee (FACC)
- You (as Principal Investigator) will receive recommendations from the committee and revisions may be necessary.
- Once an approved Animal Use Protocol (also called an Animal Certificate) is confirmed, you, and all listed in the personnel section, can now purchase and work with animals.
Assistance is available for researchers that are new, or submit for the first time:
- for McGill University's Faculties, SMBD Jewish General Hospital, Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Shriners Hospital for Children, obtain help in completing an Animal Use Protocol and getting answers to related questions, by contacting our Quality Assistant by qualityassistance [dot] vprir [at] mcgill [dot] ca (email). The Quality Assistant will contact you shortly for a meeting.
- For MUHC and MNI, please contact the local administrator.
Important to know that:
- Everyone working with live animals must take and pass the theory and practical training before the project can be approved
- Participation into the Occupational Health Program for Animal Related Activities is highly recommended but is mandatory for those working with non-human primates
- There are 10 Facility Animal Care Committees, submit to the one where you have an appointment
- Only a McGill or Affiliated Hospital Faculty and Animal Facility Manager can be a Principal Investigator for an animal project.
- For research projects which are not from a peer reviewed source of funding, internal peer review is needed. Contact your Faculty or Director's Office to make the request
- Animals covered by the approval process are:
- all living vertebrates and fish, including cephalopods (octopuses and squids)
- animals held, even for a short period
- wild animals that will be handled, tagged, fitted with transmitters, given food/nests, restrained, measured, etc (no approval needed if only observing them from afar)
- for tissue collection (unless the animal comes from an abattoir or other source where the animals were not obtained for your project specifically
Please read this letter from Prof. Denis Thérien, who was Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations) at the time; Prof. Anthony Masi, Provost; and Dr. Richard Levin, Vice-Principal (Health Affairs)
Admin letter to community about animal care program[.doc]
Investigators are responsible for complying with CFIA regulations concerning feeds, biologicals and drugs for livestock animals destined for the food supply. They must consult with CFIA’s Schedule IV or V, list of approved veterinary biologics, Compendium of Medicating Ingredient Brochures, and/or for obtaining a Research Exemption or Safety Assessment from CFIA at www.inspection.gc.ca. Investigators are advised to consult with the Chair of the FACC or the University Veterinarian in planning these initiatives.
All forms and their attachments, committee information, policies, guidelines, training and animal related information and documents are found on this Web site as well as the Theory course.
For general information about animal research, please read our pamphlet:
In English: Animal Research pamphlet - English [.pdf]
In French: Animal Research pamphlet - French [.pdf]
Questions can be sent by animalcare [at] mcgill [dot] ca (email).