Guidance on Significant Changes to Ongoing Animal Activities

Guidance on Significant Changes to Ongoing Animal Activities has been published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on August 26, 2014, NOT-OD-14-126. This Notice provides guidance to PHS awardee institutions and IACUCs on what is considered a significant change to an ongoing animal activity that requires IACUC review. The PHS Policy requires that IACUCs “review and approve, require modifications in (to secure approval) or withhold approval of proposed significant changes regarding use of animals in ongoing activities.” (IV.B.7.).

The guidance can be found on OLAW’s new webpage on Significant Changes. Here you will also find a recorded OLAW Special Seminar that provides clarification on the guidance. A panel of experts from various parts of the animal care and use community and a representative from USDA join OLAW in this discussion of conditions and nuances of the new guidance. Viewers may find it helpful to refer to the printed transcript while watching the video.

Also available are the public comments received in response to a Request for Information on proposed guidance.