Reporting of Deviations and Animal Abuse

Summary

Any deviations or incidents must be reported to the IACUC within 72 hours of discovery. Animal Welfare concerns should be reported to reportconcern@wm.edu.

Full Description

What do researchers need to report?

Adverse Events (AEs):

• outcomes that adversely affect the health or well-being of animals used in research, teaching, or testing; incidents related to experimental procedures that resulted in an increased level of pain or distress in an animal or death of an animal that was not anticipated or described in the approved protocol; 
• any occurrence of an unanticipated event that negatively impacted the welfare of animals; usually involving pain, distress, or death of an animal.

Protocol Deviations (PDs):

Any departure, mistakes, or omissions made by the research team that are inconsistent with the approved IACUC protocol or the conduct of animal related activities without appropriate IACUC review and approval.

Noncompliance:

Reports of negligence or willful disregard of institutional policies/procedures, and/or federal regulations

How to report AEs, PDs, and Noncompliance?

1. Complete the IACUC Incident Form
2. Email researchcompliance@wm.edu to confirm submission of form
3. Await response from IACUC

Reports of Animal Abuse

Any member of the W&M community who has specific concerns about the handling of animals in a particular protocol has the right, and the obligation, to submit their concern in writing to the Institutional Officer, the Chair of the IACUC, the Adjunct Veterinarian, or other Committee members. The university also makes available an email address, reportconcern@wm.edu, to enable reporting.

All reports are confidential. There is no restriction on who may report a concern. Despite the reporting method, per The Guide, 8th edition (p.23-24), the "Responsibility for review and investigation of these concerns rests with the IO (Institutional Official) and the IACUC."

Report Process

In the William & Mary Faculty Handbook, specific procedures are detailed to protect against discrimination of the “concerned/reporting party” as required by the Guide.

• Upon notification of a concern, the IACUC Chair along with the Adjunct Veterinarian, will initiate an investigation of the situation.
• They will report the allegation and their initial findings to the members of the Committee at a specially called meeting.
• The investigator involved will be invited to attend the meeting to present his/her view of the issue.
• The committee will then enter into a closed session to resolve the validity of any allegation and to determine the appropriate action. Such action may include a resolution that the allegation is unfounded, a change in protocol to eliminate the cause of concern, or in extreme cases, termination of a protocol.
• Results of the deliberation will be provided to the investigator and to the person making the initial allegation.
• In accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and the Assurance Statement of the university, all such proceedings will be reported in full to the responsible federal agencies