Additional Rules for Projects Conducted in a Regulated Research Institution

It is assumed by the MRSF that animals used for research in a regulated research institution will be housed, fed and treated according to the guidelines set forth in publications such as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research.  It is also assumed that the Qualified Scientist, Designated Supervisor, or lab personnel will oversee the care of the animals during the course of the experiment.

Research that is acceptable for professionals is not always appropriate for pre-college students. Therefore, the following rules apply to students who are working with mentors in institutional laboratories:

  1. If the student is working in an institutional lab with laboratory animals, the work must be conducted under the responsibility of a principal investigator.  Written approval from the institution’s Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must be included with the Research Plan. A letter from the mentor is not sufficient.  A Research Plan must also be submitted to the Fair SRC, with the IACUC approval attached, before the start of the experiment.  This is a change from previous years.

  2. It is often necessary during the course of some advanced studies to euthanize laboratory animals before removing tissues or in order to do a pathological analysis. Humane euthanasia is acceptable as long as the following apply:

         • The student does not perform the euthanasia.
         • The method of euthanasia adheres to current AVMA Guidelines.

  3. The research methods must not cause any more than momentary pain or suffering to the animals. The USDA has established a chart of Pain Categories which the Intel ISEF Scientific Review Committee has adapted for use with projects. This chart may be accessed on the ISEF web site: http://www.sciserv.org/isef/rules/rules10.pdf.

The Research Plan that is submitted to the SRC prior to experimentation must include the following:

  1. Checklist for Adult Sponsor (Form 1),
  2. Student Checklist & Research Plan (Form 1A) including the following:
         • justification for using vertebrates,
         • discussion of possible alternatives to using vertebrates,
         • discussion of how the project may contribute to science,
         • description of methods & procedures,
         • description of how pain, discomfort or distress will be minimized,
         • species, sex, age, weight, source and number of animals used.
  3. Approval Form (Form 1B),
  4. Vertebrate Animal Form (Form 5B) filled out completely,
  5. Qualified Scientist Form (Form 2),
  6. Other applicable documentation (IACUC approval, Form 7, etc.).

Notice that the Regulated Research Institution Form (Form 1C) is not listed. This is because Form 1C is filled out AFTER the experiment is finished.

8/27/07