Animal Ethics Committee
 Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Animal Ethics Committee define as an animal?
The Animal Ethics Committee adopts the definition of an animal from The Code (Introduction) as any live non-human vertebrate, that is fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock, wildlife, and also cephalopods such as octopus and squid.
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When can I start my research?
No work on research or teaching projects may commence until
approval has been given by the Animal Ethics Committee.
Click here to review the decisions of the AEC.
If you wish to join an already approved project, you must be added as
a co-investigator and complete your Animal Competency and Experience
Registration, prior to gaining approval to participate in the use of animals.
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How do I apply for permission to use animals for research or
teaching?
- Register or update your Animal Competency and Experience
Registration.
- Download the current application form. Choose the appropriate form.
- Read the NHMRC "Australian Code of Practice for the Care and
Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes". There are useful
checklists for planning projects (section 3.2) and conduct of
studies (section 3.3)
- Discuss your animal requirements (numbers, timing,
availability or space) with the
Animal House Manager
or the Animal Farm Manager.
- Read and sign the declaration and have your School Dean
read and sign the declaration.
- Send the Application to the Research
Ethics Office for consideration at the next
AEC Meeting by the submission deadline.
- The AEC will make a decision on the application and notify
you.
Students cannot be Chief Investigators. If you are a student the application must be
submitted by your supervisor (although you may be expected to
do the preparation).
Fill out the application form clearly using plain English.
Get your supervisor or a colleague to read it.
Non-specialist members of the Committee must be able to
understand you application.
Read the Applying and
Guidance
information pages.
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When is the next AEC Meeting and Submission
Deadline?
Click here to view the AEC Meeting and
Submission Deadline dates.
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How long is approval granted for?
Approval is usually granted for a maximum of 3 calendar years. However, it is a condition of
approval that each year an
annual report must be submitted which allows the project to be reviewed by the Animal
Ethics Committee (as required by section 2.2.37 of the Code). This must be
submitted by February each year at the latest.
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Why do I need to apply for registration?
The Research Ethics Office is required under the Animal Welfare
Act 2002 to maintain an up-to-date
register of all people involved in procedures at Murdoch using
animals. This
must be regularly updated by investigators to ensure details are
current. People who are registered at other institutions may still
be required to register with Murdoch University.
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What if I will be involved with research at another institution?
If the other institution has given the project ethics approval
and all the animal work will be done there then complete a
Non Standard Application Form. The form needs to be reviewed
by Murdoch University's Animal Ethics Committee before you
can commence work on the project. You also need to supply the
application that was submitted to the other institution(s) and a copy
of the approval letter. It is essential that the other
Ethics Committee is properly constituted according to the NHMRC -
check with the Ethics Advisor.
If the work is not entirely conducted at their institution, you may need to
submit the Research Form. Please contact the Ethics Advisor for further guidance.
If the work is in another state, the
university may need to apply for special licence/s. Please check
with the Animal Ethics Officer.
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What if someone from another
institution is involved with my research?
The Code requires that all staff or students involved
in scientific research or teaching activities obtain approval from their
institution's AEC,
regardless of where the activity takes place (Section 2.2.41, 3.1.5-6). An AEC
may formally delegate approval authority e.g. if a person from another
organisation joins a Murdoch project, that person's institutional AEC may
choose to delegate approval authority to Murdoch's AEC. Each
institution or its AEC must formally make this decision. Seeking institutional approval is the primary responsibility of the member
of that institution. However, you may wish to facilitate this process to avoid unnecessary
delays to your project. Formal notification of approval or delegation of
approval from the participating institution will be a condition of Murdoch
AEC approval.
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Are there any special requirements for
work overseas?
Yes. Section 2.2.45 of the Code requires confirmation of compliance with
codes, laws and practices equivalent to those in Australia and you will need
to provide detailed assurance that the welfare
of the animals will be suitably monitored and maintained. Where applicable,
a copy of local "AEC" approval from a collaborating institution or
organisation is required. Photographs of facilities may be of
assistance. You will need to attach this documentation to your submission.
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Do I need approval for work on animal tissue obtained from
commercial or other sources?
If you are working only on animal tissue and you will not be
euthanasing animals to obtain the tissue then you generally
will not need to submit a formal application. You are required to notify the Research Ethics Office in writing of what
you are doing. Check your specific case with our office before doing
this.
Details required are:
source of animal (include AEC permit number, if known)
proposed use
samples or procedures to be done
learning outcome and student ratio (if used for teaching)
storage and disposal
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What if I want to re-home animals after my research?
If you have an animal that may be suitable for re-homing, contact
the Research Ethics Office to find out the best way to go about
this.
Each case is reviewed separately.
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I am trapping wildlife and do not know what I will catch. How do
I estimate numbers?
Estimating numbers for wildlife projects can be difficult and the
Animal Ethics Committee takes this into consideration. Make the
best estimate you can and explain on the application form how you
arrived at this estimate and why it is
not possible to be more accurate e.g. trapping has not been carried
out in this area before. You will need to keep the Research Ethics
Office regularly informed if the numbers exceed your estimate or
animals you did not specify in the application are trapped. If the
project runs into a second year you will be expected to be more
accurate with your trapping estimates when you apply for an annual
renewal.
Remember to include estimates for by-catch.
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I am only observing animals, do I need ethics approval?
Yes. You need to obtain formal Animal Ethics Committee approval
for any project involving live vertebrate animals (and cephalopods), including
observational studies.
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Will there be monitoring or inspections of my animals or the
facility in which they are held. If so how often?
All projects using animals are monitored by the AEC. The Animal Ethics
Officer will visit each project at least once, usually more during
its permit life. Visits are usually arranged but may also be
unannounced. Where a project is beyond
easy traveling distance of the Murdoch Campus, special arrangements
may be made including a requirement for investigators to submit photo and / or
video records of the work.
The Animal Ethics Officer makes regular visits to the Murdoch
Farms, animal house and any other areas where teaching or research
animals are kept. Members of the Animal Ethics Committee also visit
these areas, at least on an annual basis.
In addition to physical visits, animal use and numbers are
recorded and an annual report is provided to the University. In
addition, reports are sent to the Department of Local
Government and Regional Development (DLGRD) and to the National Health and Medical
Research Council (NHMRC). In order to facilitate these reports the Animal Ethics Committee reviews each
project annually.
The AEC and its work within the institutions are also reviewed by an
external panel every 3 years. The next assessment is due in 2010.
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What if there is an unexpected death or
an adverse event occurs?
Refer to the Approval page.
The AEC must be promptly notified, refer to the
Forms page.
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Where can I find information on
accepted techniques such as anaesthetics or euthanasia?
See the Guidance page.
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What is death as an end point?
Death as an end point is defined in The Code (Introduction) as follows: When the death of an animal is the deliberate measure used for evaluating biological or chemical processes, responses or effects. That is, where the investigator or teacher will not intervene to kill the animal humanely before death occurs in the course of a scientific activity.
If the death of an animal is the result of planned euthanasia at the conclusion of the project, it is not ‘death as an end point’.
If an animal dies unexpectedly during the course of the research, it is not ‘death as an end point’.
If an animal unexpectedly deteriorates to the point where it is required to be euthanased, it is not ‘death as an end point’.
The most common situation in the past for ‘death as an end point’ was in toxicity studies. However, it is more usual these days for a protocol to be designed in such a way that ‘death as an end point’ is avoided. If your proposed study incorporates death as an end point, you will need to provide rigorous justification of why humane end points cannot be inserted prior to death. It is rare for procedures to be approved with death as an end point.
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Can't find the answer to your question? Click
here to ask the Research Ethics Office.
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