The Animal Study Lifecycle

Inactivation of a UTHSA IACUC protocolProtocolstep-by-step details of how a study will be conducted including objectives, design, procedures, measurements, management and analysis, as well as a discussion of relevant research ethics issues.  must be submitted using the ORCA progress report. Select "inactivate" on the first item of the progress report.

Lean more about ORCA Progress Report.

Rodent EuthanasiaEuthanasiaThe humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress, or a method that utilizes anesthesia produced by an agent that causes painless loss of consciousness and subsequent death (AWR). 
Costs for euthanasia and disposal of rodents are included in the rodent per diem fees.

Complete the Euthanasia Request form and placed it on each cage designated for euthanasia.  DLAR personnel will locate the cages and provide the service.  The RFID cage card will be deactivated by DLAR.

Non-Rodent Euthanasia
Is performed by DLAR personnel upon request.  Contact the DLAR technicians at VetTech@uthscsa.edu for scheduling and costs.

Removal of animals from the protocol may also be completed by transfer to another internal protocol or transfer to an external entity.

The DLAR animal internal and external transfer forms are available on ORCA.
To submit an ORCA transfer request you must be the PI, Co-PI, or a Delegate.

Transfer Options Available:

• Protocol Transfer (Internal) - Transfer animals from one protocol to another protocol
• External Transfer – Transfer animals to an external Institute/University

Learn more about  ORCA Animal Transfers & Relocation for further guidance on submitting Animal transfers

When animals are euthanized, transferred to another protocolProtocolstep-by-step details of how a study will be conducted including objectives, design, procedures, measurements, management and analysis, as well as a discussion of relevant research ethics issues.  , or removed the RFID cage card must be returned to DLAR for deactivation to remove the associated cage from the protocol charge list.  The RFID cage card should be turned in to DLAR using the cage card collection drop boxes located in each animal facility unless otherwise noted.

Good records are essential for verifying the quality of study data produced and demonstrating investigator compliance with regulations, laws and institutional policies.  UTHSA investigators must retain researchResearcha systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.   records in accordance with federal, institutional, and sponsorSponsorare the agencies, institutions, companies, organizations, foundations, or individual grantors responsible for the initiation, management, or financing of a research study.   requirements.  The regulatory mandate for records retention depends upon which regulations are applicable to the research.  For some documents UTHSA requires much longer retention than some federal requirements.  Investigators must comply with all applicable requirements.  

More information on the institution’s records retention policy may be found here: UT Health Records Management 

Researchers may request permission to take original researchResearcha systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.   data when leaving the university​.  To do so please contact Melanie Zuñiga Rapp at zunigam5@uthscsa.edu or 210-562-6838.

​HOP 7.10.1 provides research data definitions, obligations to retain, archive and make data available for collaboration.  The policy summarizes other regulations, policies, agreements and circumstances that impact research data retention and access.  

Learn more about other research data retention and access rules​.