Amending projects
Changes to a project which have an impact on animal welfare beyond circumstantial arrangements must be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee. This would include things like varying an experimental protocol, requesting more animals, or introducing new drugs. There are two methods for submitting amendments, depending on when the original approval was granted:
1. Pre-2007 projects
Completed on a paper form. Send one signed original to the Animal Ethics group ahead of the AEC deadline. Note that pre-2007 projects are distinguished by a five digit ID number (e.g. 06199).
2. Post-Jan 2007 (Themis projects)
Amendments are completed on Themis via the following steps:
- Go to the Animal Ethics Workbench and locate Request for Amendment at the top of the page. Click the Create button
- Click the Create button next to the relevant project in the list of Ethics Applications Available for Amendment
- Complete the Amendment Details cover sheet (Step 1)
- Incorporate your amendment by changing relevant sections within the body of the application. Differentiate any inserted/amended text from the original approved application text, particularly within the Project Description (Themis Step 11)
- Submit the application via Step 17 on Themis ahead of the AEC deadline (no paper copies or communication with the Research Office required)
What happens next?
Do not incorporate the amendment into your project activities until you have been notified of approval. The Research Office will inform you of this by email, and a positive outcome will be shortly followed by a formal approval letter. Alternatively you may receive instructions on how to revise your amendment ahead of a further review. The scale and nature of revisions will determine whether the revised amendment will be reviewed “out of session” by the AEC Chair, or by the full Committee at its next sitting.