Please note the current version of the ACURO Appendix is different than previous versions in that it requests page number references to identify where the information regarding DoD-funded animal work can be found in the corresponding IACUC protocol. This change was implemented to ease regulatory burden for ACURO customers and to help ACURO reviewers easily locate information regarding DoD-funded animal work in the IACUC protocol. Please be advised that paragraphs of information taken directly from the protocol must not be inserted into sections 8-28 of the ACURO Appendix.

No, with the exception of justification for unalleviated pain or distress (USDA Pain Category E), do not cut and paste information from the protocol into the Appendix sections 8-28. Please simply provide page number references to identify where DoD-funded animal work can be found in the IACUC approved protocol submitted to ACURO for review. You should only enter information into the "Additional information not provided in the protocol" if that information is not found in the corresponding protocol.

If all the animal studies in the approved IACUC protocol submitted to ACURO for review are funded by this DoD award, then the protocol is considered fully funded. Please contact your Science Officer with funding questions.

ACURO review only covers DoD funded studies. If the animal use protocol contains some experiments, procedures, or animals that are NOT funded by this DoD award, then the submission would be considered partially funded by the DoD. A highlighted version of the IACUC protocol illustrating where studies funded by this award are located must be provided for ACURO review. ACURO will only review DoD funded activities.

No, this submission would be considered partially funded by your award. The entire protocol, to include funded amendments and the most recent version of the complete IACUC approved protocol, must be submitted along with all other required documents for ACURO review. Refer to ACURO SUBMISSION FAQ #1 and ACURO SUBMISSION FAQ #7.

DoD's review and oversight primarily covers only those activities that are funded by the DoD. Highlighting partially funded protocols is required so that ACURO staff can easily identify DoD-funded animal work approved by your IACUC in the protocol submitted to ACURO for review. Highlighting is only required for animal use protocols partially funded by DoD. Page numbers referenced in the Appendix MUST match highlighted sections in the IACUC approved protocol submitted for review. No or limited highlighting will cause significant delay of the review.

The person at the subcontract site who is responsible for the management of the funds received from the awarded institution would be considered the Institutional Grants Manager.

Please identify the highest USDA p/d category in the IACUC approved protocol applicable to the DoD funded animal work. Pain categorization using the USDA definitions is required for all species of animals that are funded by DoD. USDA p/d definitions can be found in section 3 of the ACURO Appendix. If you are unsure which USDA pain and distress category should be identified in this section of the Appendix, please consult your IACUC to help identify the appropriate pain and distress category. Refer to ACURO SUBMISSION FAQ #12.

Please provide the institutional p/d category definition for the p/d category assigned to animal work funded by the DoD award.

Because of the importance of this subject, ACURO requires that the Category E justification be written in the Appendix itself, not just referenced by page number.

No, section 7 of the ACURO Appendix only needs to be filled out if the institution is NOT accredited by AAALAC International.

Yes, DoD regulations require consideration of alternatives to painful procedures information for all animal species, including those not subject to USDA regulation. Refer to ACURO SUBMISSION FAQ #13.

No, the information on consideration of alternatives needs to be provided to ACURO, but the IACUC approved protocol submitted to ACURO for review does not need to be amended unless your IACUC would require an amendment to include the requested information.

No, ACURO does not review information described in the Statement of Work (SOW) or any other grant documents. ACURO reviews the IACUC approved animal use protocol to ensure all activities funded by this award have been captured and approved by the IACUC in the protocol submitted to ACURO for review. Do not include grant information or grant references in this or any section of the ACURO Appendix.

No, all studies funded by your DoD award MUST be approved by the IACUC at your institution prior to submitting required documents to ACURO for review. If studies funded by your Award are NOT approved by your IACUC, please contact your IACUC to assist you in adding DoD funded animal work to your protocol. Refer to ACURO SUBMISSION FAQ #1

Yes. A potentially painful procedure is one that may produce a level or duration of pain that would normally require the use of anesthetics or analgesics. Please include, by page number reference, ALL potentially painful procedures funded by this DoD award in this section of the ACURO Appendix.

No, chemical restraint does not qualify as a painful procedure. Mechanisms used for chemical restraint should be referenced in the other procedures section.

No, paralytic agents include neuromuscular blocking agents (such as pancuronium, rocuronium, gallamine, succinylcholine, and others) that produce generalized muscle paralysis without loss of consciousness. General anesthetics (e.g., isoflurane, ketamine, etc.) are NOT considered to be paralytic agents. Use of paralytics without anesthesia is prohibited.

Yes, all non-pharmaceutical grade (NPG) products, to include test agents, used in the DoD-funded animal work must be referenced in this section of the ACURO Appendix. If NPG agents have not yet been identified within the protocol at the time of ACURO review and the protocol will be modified at a later date to include these agents, please note that a copy of the amendment and documentation of IACUC approval for the amendment identifying NPG agents must be submitted to ACURO for review/approval prior to implementation.

If Animal Welfare Regulation or Guide standards for minimum housing space are not met for special housing situations, this would need to be described here. Consult your IACUC if you aren't sure about which activities are exceptions/exemption/departures.

No, euthanasia is not synonymous with death as an endpoint. Death as an endpoint is when endpoints prior to death are not adequate to achieve study objectives and animals are allowed to die as a result of the experimental procedures without the benefits of early euthanasia, veterinary intervention, or treatment to alleviate pain.