Scientific procedures involving the use of live vertebrates require the submission of PRFs.

For research protocols, the principal investigator of the research project can and should submit PRFs. For teaching protocols, the laboratory coordinator or training organizer submits PRFs.

No, the person responsible for submission of PRF should be the student's adviser regardless of the source of funding.

For experiments involving animals done outside the UP Diliman campus, no PRF is needed. You should however inquire about the protocol review process of the institution where you will conduct the experiment.

The principal investigator, research assistants, and students involved in the specific protocol should be included.

The most pertinent information that should be included is the person’s training and relevant experience in the use of animals for scientific procedures. The educational attainment can also be included.

“Name of protocol or procedure” refers to the actual procedure that will be done on the animal. “Title/s of research/study” refers to the research topic wherein the procedure is part of the methodology. For example, for the research topic “Anti-diabetic properties of native plants”, a protocol could be the oral glucose tolerance test for mice.

You may transfer clean, excess, untreated animals, but it has to be declared in your Terminal Report.

There are two outcomes if your protocol is not approved during the IACUC meeting: it could be pre-approved or it could be pending approval. Pre-approved protocols only require minor revisions as decided by the IACUC and it will automatically be approved once the revisions have been made. Protocols pending approval are protocols the IACUC has deemed in need of major overhaul. Once revised these protocols will be deliberated upon again in the next IACUC meeting.

You need to procure a sanitary and phytosanitary clearance (SPS) from the Bureau of Animal Industry. You can register here. For more information, visit the BAI website.

For security purposes, it is strongly advised that pictures of research involving laboratory animals are not posted on social media.

You should ask about the animals’ date/s of birth, medical histories, as well as special precautions and considerations when handling such animals.