The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and the University Animal Care Committee (UACC) require that all research involving animals undergo the following two distinct and separate reviews and approvals prior to the use of animals.
- Peer review for scientific merit
- Ethics review by the Local Animal Care Committee (LACC)
Animals must only be used for research that has been found by independent, expert peers to have scientific merit. Studies funded by major external granting agencies (e.g., CIHR, NSERC, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, etc.) are considered to have undergone successful peer review during the granting process. Studies that are either not peer-reviewed as part of the granting process, or are internally funded, require peer review for scientific merit. Refer to the University of Toronto (U of T) UACC Guidelines on Peer Review for Scientific Merit and U of T Peer Review for Scientific Merit Submission Form for more information.
Peer review for scientific merit is required for all projects involving animal-based research unless an exemption has been granted. Refer to the U of T UACC Guidelines on Peer Review for Scientific Merit and the U of T Peer Review for Scientific Merit Exemption Form for more information. Note – animals used solely for teaching purposes require Pedagogical Merit Review.
If the project has been deemed to have scientific merit, an AUP must be submitted to the LACC for ethical review. The following resources provide additional information.
- U of T UACC Guidelines on Peer Review for Scientific Merit
- U of T Peer Review for Scientific Merit Submission Form
- U of T Peer Review for Scientific Merit Exemption Form
- CCAC Policy Statement on: Scientific Merit & Ethical Review of Animal-Based Research
- FAQs on the CCAC Policy Statement on: Scientific Merit & Ethical Review of Animal-Based Research
- Identify AUPs requiring scientific merit review
- Facilitate the peer review process between the PI, Review Panel, and LACC
