The use of animals in research and teaching requires the highest ethical standards related to the practice. Trent University ensures that all researchers working with animals receive the proper training, guidance, and resources. In addition, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) provides nationally and internationally recognized standards and verifies their effective implementation in Canadian institutions
For more information about Animal Care at Trent, please see the animal care page
For more information about the Animal Care Committee, please see the research committees page
Selecting a Protocol Form
- For field-based projects that may or may not have a laboratory component, choose the Wildlife Form.
- For strictly laboratory-based projects, choose the Laboratory Form.
Please contact the Coordinator, Research Conduct and Reporting, or ACF Manager if you would like to consult your protocol draft before submitting it for review by the Animal Care Committee.
Multi-year Protocols
Protocols can run a maximum of four years before a resubmission to the Animal Care Committee is required. Principal investigators are required to submit an annual summary after the protocol is approved.
*This does not apply to any recurring Teaching Protocol. An annual resubmission of a full protocol is mandatory.
Live Animals and Teaching
The use of live animals for undergraduate teaching purposes where animals are euthanized as part of the teaching exercise is discouraged. All teaching protocols involving the use of live animals must have a positive pedagogical review prior to the proposal being reviewed by the Trent ACC. Please contact Coordinator, Research Conduct and Reporting to obtain the templates for the Pedagogical Merit Review Form (filled out by the PI) and the Reviewer Comment Form. A pedagogical merit review should be requested by the PI from the curriculum committee of the relevant University department. Additionally, ACC requests a statement from the department Chair confirming financial support for the proposed work.
External Peer Review
Any application using live vertebrates and cephalopods, which has not completed the peer review process prior to submission, will be subject to external peer review prior to review by the ACC. In addition to submitting your AUP in ROMEO, please complete the Scientific Merit Review Form For Applicants and forward it to the Coordinator, Research Conduct and Reporting.
For more information please contact Coordinator, Research Conduct and Reporting.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Please contact the Manager of the Animal Care Facility for information on the availability of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) relevant to your animal use protocol. If you need to create a new SOP, please use this template.
Animal Care Training
Any person working with live vertebrates is required to complete the Animal Care Course prior to commencing work under an approved protocol. The instructor or teaching assistant should ensure that all students have passed the Animal Care Course online before engaging in the field work. Students can submit a certificate of completion via email.
To access the "Core Animal Research Ethics - Animal Care Microcredential" course, please follow these instructions:
- Navigate to the 'learning system' by logging in to the myTrent portal and choosing it from the top menu bar. If given a choice of "which Learning System", choose the "Blackboard Learn 9".
- From the 'Courses' tab in the top right, locate the 'course search' box in the top left. Enter 'Animal' into the search box and then 'go'.
- Position your mouse on the resulting bar "Core Animal Research Ethics - Animal Care Microcredential " and an Options menu will show up under the 'Course ID' column. Choose 'Enroll'.
The registration site will now appear on your Learning System 'course list'.
2020 Canadian Council on Animal Care Assessment
Every three years the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) assesses members’ animal care and use programs. Its assessment panel includes scientists, veterinarians experienced in laboratory animal medicine, and community representatives, and assesses all aspects of the program, including animal care committee function, standard operating procedures, policy, housing facilities and research protocols.
CCAC assessment reports include commendations and recommendations in three categories: Major, Serious and Regular. Read more on the CCAC Certification Process.
In its 2020 assessment of Trent’s animal research program, CCAC made a number of commendations and regular recommendations. No major recommendations were made as part of the assessment. Prior to recertification, Trent must satisfy all recommendations made in the assessment.
Regular recommendations involve potential weaknesses in the animal ethics and care program based on CCAC policies, guidelines, and other CCAC-recognized standards. The measures taken and planned in response to these recommendations must be provided to the CCAC within six months of the institution receiving the written recommendations.
Additional Resources
Animal Care Application Guidelines
Animal Care Webpage
Trent University Animal Care Handbook
Trent Animal Care Standards Policy
Animals for Research Act (Ontario)
Canadian Council on Animal Care
Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Medicine
Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Canadian Bioethics Society
Canadian Animal Health Institute
Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing
Animals in Research Questions and Answers
Lab Animal
Laboratory Animals