Animal Research Ethics

The Virginia College (Birmingham) is committed to complying with the highest standard of ethics and research integrity. The University's Code of Conduct for Research outlines what is expected from everyone engaged in research at VCB with standards of responsible and ethical conduct.

All staff, students, and external researchers seeking to conduct research or demonstration teaching projects that involve the use of live vertebrate animals, and higher order invertebrates, at the Virginia College (Birmingham) must apply to VCB's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) for ethical review. This includes the use of animals in research, teaching, field trials, product testing, diagnosis, the production of biological products and environmental studies. Observational studies of wildlife also require AEC approval.

Projects involving animals may only commence with approval in writing from the AEC and once an Animal Research Authority has been issued for the project. Approval may also be required from other relevant authorities outside of the University. All persons involved in the procedures of an approved project must also be approved by the AEC.

The AEC uses guidelines set out in the American Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (PDF).