Welcome to the St. Francis Xavier University Animal Care Site
All information pertaining to the use of animals at X can be found here. We run a small sized facility and mostly deal with marine invertebrates. We are governed by the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
NOTICE:
Please be advised that the ACC will next consider animal use protocol applications in early July, 2020. The deadline for submissions is 4pm, June 30, 2020. The next round of applications will be accepted in August of 2020. As always, you may find the applicable protocol forms (Originating and Amendment/Renewal) on the forms page. Please ensure you are using the correct template related to either renewal protocols or originating applications.
If your protocol is related to the use and study of invertebrates then please complete the invertebrate protocol and submit same directly to Jennifer van den Heuvel for consideration.
NOTICE: Please note that as of January 1st, 2011 all users intending to use invertebrates in research or teaching in J. Bruce Brown will have to complete the new invertebrate form and submit it to the Senior Animal Care Technician on the same deadlines as all other forms. This new reporting form is for protocols with a Category of Invasiveness Level A ONLY. If your protocol requires a different category of invasiveness then you will have to complete the normal animal use protocol form.
NOTICE: Please note that as of September 30th, 2010 all Principal Investigators will have to complete their animal user training certification (regardless of their level of involvement in animal handling) in order to receive animal use protocol approval.
NOTICE: Please note the deadline for resubmission or finalization of protocols has changed. Users now must resubmit or finalize (make minor changes and get signatures) a protocol within 2 weeks from the date they were notified of the animal care committee's decision.
The St. Francis Xavier University Animal Care and Use Program is currently certified by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) are as being in accordance with standards of GAP - Good Animal Practice®. The program is overseen by the university's Academic Vice-President, Dr. Kevin B. Wamsley and is comprised of an animal care facility, animal care staff, researchers, professors, instructors and the institutional animal care committee.
The Senior Animal and Plant Care Technician, Jen vandenHeuvel, with the help of an Animal Care Technician and student assistant, attends to all animal and facility needs and monitors animal use according to university policies as defined by the St. FX Animal Care Committee (ACC) and the Canadian Council of Animal Care (CCAC). These policies promote responsible use of animals in research and teaching as well as the concepts of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (or the “Three R’s”) that are widely accepted ethical principles and which are now embedded in the conduct of animal-based science in Canada, as recommended by the CCAC.
The St. Francis Xavier Animal Care and Use Program can be reached via:
Email: Senior Animal and Plant Care Technician - jenvdh@stfx.ca | ACC - animal.care@stfx.ca
Phone: 902-867-2126
Fax: 902-867-2389
Visiting: J. Bruce Brown 121c
Mailing Address:
Animal Care
c/o Jen Van Den Heuvel
St. Francis Xavier University
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
B2G 2W5
