16. Responsibilities of institutions whose staff receive MRC funding, collaboration and support for animal experimentation

16.1 It is required that all institutions receiving MRC support establish and maintain an ethical review process which conforms to these guidelines.

16.2 The exact nature of the process used will depend on the particular establishment and is not prescribed.

16.3 An appropriate structure of an ECRA is mandatory. A standard condition of MRC funding, collaboration and support is that a formal ethical review process has been performed in respect of all applications.

16.4 The function of an institutional ECRA will be to scrutinise the ethics of proposed projects, to propose reductions in the numbers of animals used, to propose refinements in the procedures to reduce fear, deprivation, distress and pain in the animals, with non-sentient systems whenever possible, and to advise on the care and welfare of laboratory animals.

16.5 It is required that institutions also actively promote and present appropriate educational programmes to all animal users to create an understanding of the ethics of animal experimentation, and a general knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of the conducting of animal studies which at least includes:

1. the use of animals in biomedical research and alternatives;
2. the ethical aspects of animal experimentation and the ethical review process;
3. the laws relating to animal experimentation;
4. the design of animal experiments;
5. the supply of laboratory animals;
6. quality in laboratory animals;
7. principles of laboratory animal husbandry;
8. hazards and safety aspects of animal work;
9. animal behaviour;
10. animal handling and manipulations;
11. anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia;
12. non-surgical experimental procedures;
13. standards of surgery for experimental animals; and
14. investigator responsibilities.

16.6 It is required that course participation and accreditation of all individuals who use animals in research, testing and teaching becomes mandatory, and that successful completion of institutional courses by individuals be recognised by the issuing of a certificate by the institution.

16.7 These courses will constitute research compliance training and may be a prerequisite for qualification for MRC funding for animal studies at both an institutional and personal level.

16.8 The exact nature of presentation of courses by an institution receiving MRC funding and requirements for examination and certification of persons who are to use animals for teaching, testing and education is not prescribed by the MRC.