Additional Information on Accreditation

The UCACS oversees all university research programs involving animals and reports to the VP of Research. They check compliance with Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) standards and ensure ethical conduct of research involving animals through the work of three committees - the Executive Committee, the Protocol Review Committee and the Facilities Inspection Committee.

No research projects involving animals can commence without prior UCACS approval of a written animal use protocol. This includes a peer review of scientific merit is carried out. They also review protocols to evaluate opportunities for possible replacement, refinement and/or reduction alternatives in terms of animal usage. When new approaches, methods or products are being tried, they encourage the use of pilot studies with few animals, before approving new, large scale protocols.

They have established procedures that ensure unnecessary pain or distress is avoided, anesthesia and analgesia are properly and effectively used and appropriate post-operative care is provided.

They ensure a comprehensive system is in place for animal care - ensuring that animals receive appropriate care in all stages of their life and in all experimental situations. Training and qualifications of animal users and animal care personnel and standards of animal husbandry, facilities and equipment are examples to two areas which are addressed within the system.

The UCACS maintains a high profile within the U of S and in the community to demonstrate the university's commitment to promote animal welfare and to allay public concerns regarding animal experimentation.

The UCACS reviews all research projects within VIDO-InterVac and conducts annual assessments of the Clinical and Epidemiological Services Unit.

For more information on the UCAS policy on the Care and Use of Animals in Research visit: http://www.usask.ca/university_secretary/policies/research/8_04.php

For more information on the CCAC's guidelines for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals visit: http://www.ccac.ca/en/CCAC_Programs/Guidelines_Policies/GUIDES/ENGLISH/V1_93/CHAP/CHV.HTM