Section 7

APPLICATIONS FOR CONTINUATION OF APPROVAL (i.e., CONTINUING REVIEW)

A. INTRODUCTION

Each study approved by the IACUC is given an expiration date (also referred to as anniversary date), after which the research cannot be conducted without continuation of approval. In order to maintain a consistent continuing review, all protocol approvals will be limited to one year (or less) and must be reviewed prior to the anniversary date in order to continue.

Researchers may not start or continue activity with animals unless they have an active (i.e., not expired) protocol approved by the CWU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Investigators should submit the required IACUC continuing review materials at least four to five weeks prior to the expiration date of your approval in order to avoid delays in approval of your ongoing research activities.

B. RENEWAL PROCEDURES

1. The PI is responsible to note the study expiration date as stated in the approval letter for the study.
2. Sixty to thirty days in advance of this anniversary, PIs are notified of the approaching date and are requested to respond that their work is continuing or has been completed (providing an end date). This is a courtesy reminder only and failure to receive it does not relieve the PI of the responsibility to complete the renewal process in a timely manner.
3. If the study is continuing, the PI is instructed to file a clearance form for continuance. Essentially this is re-submission of the proposal clarifying any proposed changes in procedures, personnel or research plan.
4. In the case of students whose projects approach the anniversary, records are checked to see if they have graduated. If so, the protocol will be closed. If not, their faculty advisor is contacted about the status of the student's work and instructed to notify the student to file a clearance form for continuance, if the project is still active.
5. The clearance form for continuance (including protocol) is distributed to the IACUC for review using the same procedures outlined above for new approval requests.