The University is committed to the humane care and use of animals. Long before being required to do so by the State and Federal government, this University initiated policies that addressed activities involving animals and established a committee to monitor those activities. Responsibility for all activities involving vertebrate animals resides with the Vice President for Research (Institutional Official).
Research or teaching activities involving the use of vertebrate animals are regulated by laws and policies at the campus, State and Federal levels.
The faculty, staff, and students at the University are required to comply with these regulations.
These regulations also apply to visitors, users of campus facilities, and users of off-campus University facilities.
Non Stony Brook University users of campus facilities and users of off-campus University facilities must enter into appropriate agreement(s) with the University.
Any research or teaching activity involving the use of live vertebrate animals much be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to ordering animals and prior to commencement of the activity.
Except as stated below all vertebrate animals for research or teaching use must be obtained through the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR). If a University purchase order isn�t acceptable to the supplier, the DLAR must be informed in order to determine whether another supplier may be contacted.
The IACUC may waive the requirement of mandatory acquisition of animals through DLAR in cases where the activity involves field work. Such a waiver is granted when the detailed methods of observation, capture, and / or tagging of vertebrate animals are determined by the IACUC to be in compliance with applicable regulations governing such work. See #11 below for additional information.
Use of privately owned animals is prohibited.
Users of vertebrate animals must follow policies set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In the event that the animals must be euthanized, the method of euthanasia must conform to those reported in the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition, or subsequent revisions. Methods of euthanasia for species not covered by this report must be employed as per IACUC recommendation.
All individuals involved in activities in which animals are used must attend a training session on the humane care and use of animals conducted by the Director of the DLAR or designee as required in SUNY Stony Brook�s Assurance filed with the National Institutes of Health.
IACUC approval is required in cases where members of the University propose to engage in collaborative work that involves the use of animals in facilities other than those under the auspices of SUNY Stony Brook.
Some research animals are wild caught and may be obtained without DLAR involvement, but a valid IACUC protocol is still required and DLAR must be notified if the animals will be housed at SUNY Stony Brook. Investigators are expected to secure the appropriate permits to trap / catch any animals. In addition, some areas require use permits to be able to do any research on their lands. It is the responsibility of the PI to obtain such permits.
The use of any other animals on campus, such as demonstration animals, theater animals, therapy animals, security animals, petting animals, etc. must be cleared with University legal department to ensure the owner / vendor has the appropriate permits and insurance.