Animal Care in Research & Teaching

Animal Care Committee

Do you use animals in research or teaching?

All animal users must submit anĀ Animal Utilization Protocol through the Romeo Research Portal, found through MyInfo, for approval by Lakehead University's Animal Care Committee.

The Lakehead University Animal Care Committee is a President's committee which was established in the 1970s to ensure the ethical use of animals used in teaching and research. The Committee composition and Terms of Reference are governed by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and Ontario's Animals for Research Act. The administration office for the Committee is the Office of Research Services.

The Committee's role is to ensure that all animal care at Lakehead University is conducted within the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care and the Animals for Research Act. Animal Utilization Protocol forms must be completed for all animal use including research, teaching, testing, and field studies, and submitted to the Committee for approval. Researchers are invited to the Committee meetings to discuss their protocols and are encouraged to bring along students who will be involved in the research. Protocols are updated and reviewed on an annual basis under the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. The Committee also provides training for researchers to enable them to become familiar with animal care issues.

All animal research facilities are inspected at least once each year by a veterinary inspector from the Animal Industry Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, and every three years by the Canadian Council on Animal Care. These site visits are made to ensure that the University is in accordance with all articles of the Animals for Research Act and the Council's policies. The Animal Care Committee also visits the facilities each year.

Additional information including publications and guidelines for the welfare and handling of animals is available in the Office of Research Services.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Christine Gottardo
Chair, Animal Care Committee
(807) 343-8010 ext. 8466
christine.gottardo@lakeheadu.ca
Sue Wright
Manager, Research Ethics and Contracts
(807) 343-8010 ext. 8283
swright@lakeheadu.ca

Resources