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The University of Pittsburgh Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC),
oversees animal programs, facilities, and procedures at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
Among its many areas of oversight, the IACUC enforces compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, including USDA Policy #12, which requires that investigators consider alternatives to procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to animals used in research. The USDA and IACUC considers the performance of a database search as an effective method for demonstrating compliance with this requirement.
Literature searches and corresponding narratives should address the following 3 R's as discussed by Russell and Burch in their classic publication The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique.
- Reduction - minimize the number of animals used without compromising statistical power
- Refinement - employ techniques and protocols that reduce pain and distress
- Replacement - substitute animals with non-animal methods (i.e. computer simulation) or animals lower on the phylogenetic scale
Important points for individuals completing an University of Pittsburgh IACUC protocol:
- A literature search is required for research using warm-blooded species other than birds, mice of the genus Mus, and rats of the genus Rattus that are classified in the USDA pain classification D or E.
- Written narratives (questions 97-99) must be clearly based on the literature uncovered during the database searches rather than anecdotal information.
- Documentation must be provided including: name of database(s) utilized, date of the literature search, time period covered, and the search strategy used.
- Two database searches or one database search plus an expert consultation are required. Attendance at a relevant conference or colloquia, providing up-to-date information, could substitute for the expert consultation.
- Records of searches should be maintained by the investigator, as they may be reviewed.
To schedule a consultation or seek assistance on searching the literature for animal alternatives, contact Melissa Ratajeski, MLIS, RLAT, at mar@pitt.edu or 412-648-1971.
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