Protocol Submission Deadlines & Who to Submit to (Animal Research & Teaching)

What do I need before I can begin?

If the project you are proposing does not have peer reviewed funding, please refer to Peer Review for Scientific Merit to determine the process for obtaining scientific merit review at U of T.

If the project you are proposing is for teaching, please refer to Requirements for Animal Use in Teaching for the process for obtaining pedagogical merit review at U of T

A valid UTORid for access to My Research Animal Protocols.

Animal Use Protocol Submissions

Animal Use Protocols (AUPs) (original submissions, renewals, or amendments) must be submitted via My Research Animal Protocols (MRAP) by 11:59pm on the following dates to allow the Local Animal Care Committee (LACC) sufficient time to review each AUP prior to the monthly meeting. Submissions received after the deadline will be deferred to the next meeting.

Minor amendments that only involve administrative changes (e.g., additions/removal of research personnel) are eligible for expedited review and approval by the Animal Ethics & Compliance Supervisor AECS).

For additional information see My Research Animal Protocols.

Submission Deadlines and LACC Meeting Dates

Health Sciences LACC

If you are using animals for research or teaching and you work out of a Division of Comparative Medicine animal facility, such as the Medical Sciences Building (MSB) or the Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research (CCBR), you will submit your protocol to the Health Sciences LACC.

AUP Submission Deadline Meeting Date
Thursday, June 12, 2025* Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Thursday, July 17, 2025* Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Thursday, August 14, 2025* Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Monday, September 15, 2025 Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Monday, October 20, 2025 Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Monday, November 17, 2025 Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Monday, December 8, 2025* Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Monday, January 19, 2026 Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026* Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Monday, March 16, 2026 Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Monday, April 20, 2026 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Tuesday, May 19, 2026* Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Thursday, June 18, 2026* Wednesday, July 8, 2026*
Thursday, July 16, 2026* Wednesday, August 5, 2026

* Altered date due to holiday closure

 

Biological Sciences LACC

If you are using animals for research or teaching and you work out of the Biological Support Facility (BSF), University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), or University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) animal facilities, you will submit your AUP to the Biological Sciences LACC. All field work is also reviewed by the Biological Sciences LACC.

AUP Submission Deadline Meeting Date
Monday, June 30, 2025 Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Tuesday, August 5, 2025* Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Tuesday, September 2, 2025* Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Monday, October 6, 2025 Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Monday, November 3, 2025 Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Monday, December 1, 2025 Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Tuesday, January 6, 2026* Tuesday, January 20, 2026*
Monday, February 2, 2026 Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Monday, March 2, 2026 Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Monday, April 6, 2026 Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026 Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Monday, June 1, 2026 Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Monday, July 6, 2026 Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Tuesday, August 4, 2026* Tuesday, August 18, 2026

* Altered date due to holiday closure

Interim Review

The interim review mechanism was put in place to allow the expedited review of AUPs that cannot wait for review until the next meeting. Any AUP submission (original submissions, renewals, or amendments) that has ‘interim review’ requested, must include clear justification for interim review.

The AECS will determine if the justification provided is sufficient grounds for interim review, as it requires significant resources for the LACC to perform interim reviews. If an interim review is not explicitly requested and justified, the submission will be assigned to the next available LACC meeting for review.

Please note that all submissions that undergo interim review and approval are subject to full committee review at the next available LACC meeting and should only be considered provisionally approved until they have received full committee approval.

VPRI Role

  • Coordinate the ethical review of all AUPs through the two U of T LACCs

VPRI Contact

Staff

General Inquiries: Animal Ethics & Compliance Unit
Research Oversight & Compliance Office (ROCO)
(416) 978-2798

Other Resources