Transport, Care, and Use of Non-Stanford Owned Laboratory Animals on the Stanford Campus

1. Introduction

The care and use of laboratory animals procured by Stanford University for teaching, research, and related activities are governed by policies designed to keep the University in compliance with all relevant external regulations for the humane treatment of laboratory animals. Occasionally, Stanford investigators engage in collaborations with or provide services to outside institutions that require the transportation of non-Stanford owned laboratory animals onto the Stanford campus. This document sets forth procedures that must be followed in these situations so that the animals involved are treated humanely, there is appropriate risk management, and the University remains in compliance with relevant external regulations.

The owners of non-Stanford laboratory animals must assume responsibility for the animals' welfare while on the campus and act in a supervisory role in overseeing the animals' welfare. Stanford personnel may serve as assistants.

2. Procedures

When non-Stanford owned laboratory animals are to be brought to Stanford as a result of a collaboration between Stanford investigators and an outside institution, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requires the following:

• an IACUC application form, for review and approval, covering the work to be done at Stanford
• an abstract of an approved protocol covering the portion of the collaborative effort to take place at the outside institution and the corollary IACUC approval document. (In special circumstances, the full protocol may be required.)
• the outside institution's Public Health Service (PHS) Assurance Number, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Registration Number, or their certificate of registration from the State of California. (This will be required in most, if not all, cases.)

When non-Stanford owned laboratory animals are to be brought to campus as a result of Stanford providing services to an outside entity (e.g., use of special equipment), the IACUC requires the following before approval can be granted:

• Proof that a Research Participation Agreement or other contractual arrangement has been approved by the University
• A description of the procedures to be performed on the animals at Stanford including: transportation arrangements, anesthesia or other chemical or physical restraint methods, experimental manipulation, euthanasia, or anything else pertinent to the care and use of the laboratory animals while they are on the campus
• Documentation showing that all portions of the research activity occurring at the outside entity involving these animals have been approved by that entity's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. That document must further display either the outside institution's PHS Assurance Number, USDA Registration Number, or their certificate of registration from the State of California.

Animals may not be held on the Stanford campus overnight without a formal transfer of ownership to Stanford. The IACUC and the Attending Veterinarian must approve all such arrangements.

Non-Stanford owned laboratory animals may not be brought to or taken from the Stanford campus without the prior review and approval of the IACUC. The IACUC will review such requests in consultation with the Attending Veterinarian who must be notified in advance when approved transportation of laboratory animals will occur. The Attending Veterinarian can be reached at 723-3876.