Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The Institution has established an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee which is qualified through the experience and expertise of its members to oversee the institution's animal program, facilities and procedures. Each institution that receives PHS support for activities involving vertebrate animals or is subject to the authority of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) must operate an animal care and use program with clear lines of authority and responsibility.

Members of the IACUC at Saint Michael's College are appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs who serves as the Institutional Official for the IACUC. The committee consists of faculty and employees of Saint Michael's College as well as members of the greater community.

Members
Contacts
Procedures for
Investigators
Forms
Links

2011 IACUC Members

Karen Talentino, Ph.D. Institutional Official
Dr. Malcolm Lippert, IACUC Chair
Rick Battistoni, Associate Director of Environment and Energy
Dr. Ruth Blauwiekel, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. David Boynton, Science Research Faculty Member
Angela Irvine, Director for Foundation Relations and Sponsored Programs
Dr. Carey Kaplan, Non-science Faculty Member
Lori Pinard, Community member
Dr. Philip Yates, Non-science Faculty Member

Contacts for the IACUC

Karen Talentino, Ph.D. Institutional Official
ktalentino@smcvt.edu
802.654.2216

Dr. Malcolm Lippert, IACUC Chair
mlippert@smcvt.edu
802.654.2856

Dr. Ruth Blauwiekel, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine University of Vermont
DrRuth@uvm.edu
802.656.7881

Rick Battistoni
rbattistoni@smcvt.edu
802.654.2425

Dr. David Boynton
dboynton@smcvt.edu
802.654.2641

Angela Irvine, IACUC Staff
airvine@smcvt.edu
802.654.2351

Dr. Carey Kaplan
ckaplan@smcvt.edu
802.654.2359

Lori Pinard, Community member
pinarde@myfairpoint.com
802.872.1876

Dr. Philip Yates
pyates@smcvt.edu
802.654.2399

IACUC Procedures for Investigators

All projects (with or without external funding) which involve the use of vertebrate animals must undergo IACUC review and receive approval prior to initiation. Initial Protocol Review Procedures:

All investigators are required to consult with the veterinarian, Dr. Blauwiekel, about the project prior to submitting the project to the IACUC.
Investigators must complete the Animal Use Protocol application or an Animal Products Form (if the project does not require live animals.)
Upon completion of the proper forms, the application is submitted to the IACUC chairperson and reviewed for completeness. If the forms are complete, the IACUC chair will begin the review process with the full IACUC. Investigators should expect this process to take approximately 30-days.
Criteria for review include activities, pain/distress, alternatives, rationale and methods, duplication, surgery, euthanasia, housing/health, qualifications of personnel and any deviation from requirements must be justified.

What to expect after your protocol is submitted:

The IACUC will notify investigators and the institution in writing of its decision to approve or withhold approval of those activities related to the care and use of animals, or of modifications required to secure IACUC approval.
The IACUC will communicate with the principle investigator through a memorandum outlining the approval status and/or concerns, questions and/or comments of the IACUC. A copy of the memorandum will also be sent to the Institutional Official by the IACUC staff member.
The IACUC Chairperson will convey one of the following four decisions in writing to the investigator promptly after the IACUC meeting:
- Approval: The investigator may begin the research study upon receipt of the Verification of Approval Form from the IACUC.
- Approval Withheld Pending Stipulations/Clarifications: This decision is determined when the protocol is recommended for approval by the IACUC pending the investigator's response to IACUC-directed stipulations/questions and/or revisions. The principle investigator must provide a memorandum responding to the IACUC's recommendations and questions.
- Tabled: More substantive issues regarding the protocol must be addressed. Clarifications or requested revisions may have a significant impact on the involved animals. A memorandum is sent to the investigator requesting that these issues be addressed.
- Disapproved: Questions regarding scientific merit and use of animals are of such significance that the committee finds approval of the study to be unwarranted. The authority of the IACUC to disapprove a study MAY NOT be overridden.

The IACUC will issue a 30-day and a 60-day reminder from the date of the protocol review for all pending protocol items. At the 90-day mark, the protocol is withdrawn from the committee's consideration.

Protocol Amendment Procedures for Investigators

Requests for approval of modifications may be submitted at any time. Completion of an Animal Use Protocol Amendment Form (LINK TO PDF FORM HERE) is required. The changes must be approved by the IACUC before any changes can be implemented in the conduct of the protocol. Investigators must consult with the veterinarian prior to submitting their protocol amendment.
Amendments to protocols include minor changes such as small increases in animal numbers, minor procedural changes, and personnel changes. Major changes include larger increases in numbers, addition of invasive procedures, changes in pain level, change in species, etc.
Minor protocol changes require the review of the veterinarian and the IACUC chairperson. Major changes will require the review of the full IACUC.
Procedures for notification to the investigator are the same for protocol amendments as for initial protocol approvals.

Forms for IACUC Procedures

Documentation for the IACUC is critical. Forms are provided for both the investigator and for the IACUC committee members through links provided below: