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Animal Ethics

As of January 1, 2010, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) entered into an agreement that St. Michael's Unity Health Toronto (formerly St. Michael's Hospital) will oversee the animal care and use program for the University. All research involving animals will need to be reviewed and approved by the St. Michael's Unity Health Toronto Animal Care Committee (ACC).

The St. Michael's Unity Health Toronto ACC will review all research proposals involving animals conducted by faculty, staff, or students at or under the auspices of the university. The Committee may recommend modifications to any proposed research, reject such research, approve the research for one year with annual review, or terminate any research project. No research on animals, as defined by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) (external link, opens in new window) , shall be undertaken without the prior approval of the ACC.

The approval of the St. Michael's Unity Health Toronto ACC is required in order to protect animals used in research and to ensure that research is conducted in an ethical manner.

The Animal Care Committee

  • Reviews research protocols.
  • Interprets and applies the CCAC Guidelines and relevant legislation.
  • Establishes guidelines and procedures consistent with the CCAC Guidelines and relevant legislation.
  • Facilitates research by consulting with and assisting researchers.
  • Conducts an Annual Animal Inventory/Facility Review.
  • Reports annually to the Senate.
  • Reports to the Vice-President, Research and Innovation as needed.
  • Approves the application processes and forms used for ethics review of animal research protocols.
  • Informs the research community about its work and animal care ethics review.

Resources

Resources for Animal Ethics can be found on the FAQ & Resources (opens in new window)  page.

For more information on how to submit a proposal to the St. Michael's Unity Health Toronto ACC, please contact Zakiya Atcha:

Zakiya Atcha
Research Ethics Manager
416-979-5000 ext. 4841
zakiya.atcha@torontomu.ca