Grant Application Information

NIH, NSF, and many private extramural funding agencies require verification that the ACUC has approved all proposed animal care and use procedures before they will fund research grant applications. When a grant application that involves the use of live vertebrate animals is submitted to the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO), a copy of the application is forwarded to the ACUC. The ACUC will screen the grant application to see if all proposed animal care and use procedures are described in the investigator's current AUP. If so, the ACUC will notify the funding agency that these procedures have been reviewed and approved. If not, the investigator will be asked to submit a revised protocol describing any new animal care or use procedures.

NIH Applications: NIH requires verification that an applicant requesting funds for animal research has an approved AUP. The NIH has changed the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) to permit institutions (like UCB) with PHS Animal Welfare Assurances to submit verification of ACUC approval subsequent to peer review but prior to award. However, it remains incumbent upon investigators to be totally forthcoming and timely in conveying to the ACUC any modifications related to project scope and animal usage that may result from the NIH review and award process. To allow sufficient time for review, AUPs or revised AUPs associated with NIH applications should be submitted to the ACUC as soon as possible. Institutional officials retain the discretion to require ACUC approval prior to peer review in certain circumstances.

Vertebrate Animal Section (the "Five Points") ~ assistance writing the Vertebrate Animal Section of the NIH application may be found here.

NSF Applications: Because NSF does not require verification of ACUC approval until an award is made, an AUP or revised AUP associated with an NSF project may be submitted to the ACUC after the sponsor's deadline. However, PIs should be aware that SPO will not release grant funding without verification of ACUC approval.

Other Research: The ACUC meets 10 times a year. AUPs or revised AUPs received at least 6 weeks before a meeting can usually be included in the agenda for that meeting, unless preliminary screening indicates that the ACUC requires additional significant information. Consequently, the time required to review an AUP normally ranges from 6-8 weeks, depending on the timing of the submission and whether there is a need for additional information. Information about upcoming meeting dates and applicable submission deadlines can be found here.

Documents Sometimes Required When Submitting Grant Proposals:

UC Berkeley PHS Animal Welfare Assurance Number is A3084-01 (a PDF version of the Assurance letter is available here). The approval period for UCB's Assurance is December 14, 2006 - December 31, 2010.

UC Berkeley maintains full accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), International (a PDF version of the current AAALAC accreditation letter is available here).

UC Berkeley is registered with the USDA, under the Animal Welfare Act, as a Class R Research Facility (a PDF version of the latest USDA Inspection Report is available here).