** Notice- 28 May 2024

Dear PIs

Please be informed that your iORC submissions for review at the IACUC meeting on 15 Jul 2024 should reach us/be submitted by Thurs 13 Jun 2024.

The July deadline for submissions is advanced to 13 Jun because of the public holiday on 17 Jun 2024. This is a one-off adjustment which will not affect the deadlines for other months.

Review of applications received beyond 13 Jun 2024 will be deferred to 19 Aug 2024.

Thank you.

IACUC Office

** Notice- 17 May 2024

** IACUC Notice 2024-2 **

1. NACLAR Guidelines 2022 (pg 9, para II.4.3.4) states that “Breeding of animals must be managed to avoid, or minimise, the production of excess animals”. To facilitate the review and approval of animal breeding, IACUC has introduced a template for section 2.8 of Breeding protocols (see attached). It is also anticipated to help to reduce the number of questions raised on the alignment of strains and animal number between research and breeding protocols and amendments during IACUC review. Do feel free to provide feedback and suggestion for improvement on the template, if any. Please be informed that the attached template need to be completed and submitted with the following:
   1. all new breeding protocols including renewal; and
   2. any amendments to breeding protocols that involved addition of strains or changes in animal numbers.
2. IACUC would also like to remind PIs and researchers that the animal numbers must be similarly aligned in both research and breeding protocols and amendments (see point 1 above), with a permissible variation of not more than 5% or a maximum of 50 whichever is the lower.
3. In addition, NACLAR Guidelines 2022 (pg 66, para III.4.7.4) states that “For research purposes, i.e. when the compounds are used to accomplish the scientific aims of the study, pharmaceutical-grade substances must be used if available, and suitable”. Hence, PIs are advised to use pharmaceutical grade substances for in vitro studies if they planned to eventually moved into in vivo animal model.

Thank you for your kind attention and we wish you all the best in your work with animals !!
IACUC office (on behalf of IACUC)

** Notice- 15 Mar 2024

Latest version of self-report form is now available on IACUC website

The latest version of the self-report form used to inform the IACUC whenever there is any adverse event, and/or unanticipated problems inlcuding the unexpected deaths of animals, possible non-compliance or any other issues relating to welfare during the care and use of animals is now available on IACUC website

Thank you.
IACUC office

Welcome to IACUC

• Evaluates animal use for scientific purposes. This includes research, teaching, field trials, environmental and behavioural studies, diagnosis, product testing and the production of biological materials, through the review of animal use protocols;
• Ensures that the use of animals is carried out in accordance with the approved animal use protocol through regular post-approval monitoring visits of animal use facilities.
• Ensures that the housing and care of animals are provided in accordance with the National Advisory Committee for laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) Guidelines (Guidelines on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes) in premises licensed by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), the regulatory body of the Singapore Animals and Birds Act;
• Ensures that the personnel involved in care and use of animals are suitably qualified and trained, through the training programme administered by Comparative Medicine (CM);
• Liaises with the Office of Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) on occupational safety and health programme in animal care and use protocols;
• Liaises with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) on the ethical use of human tissues in animal use protocols; and
• Conducts annual inspection of animal housing and use facilities and semi-annual review of animal care and use programmes