ARE Application Form

BioRTC Ethical Application Guidance

This form is developed in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 LFN 2004, the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, Cap A17 LFN 2004, and the Veterinary Surgeon Act, Cap V3 LFN 2004. It is also guided by international standards, including “The Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes”, which defines an animal as:

A live, sentient non-human vertebrate, including eggs, foetuses and embryos, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, and encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, farm animals, wildlife, and higher invertebrates such as the advanced members of the Cephalopoda and Decapoda.

Instructions
  • All applications must be typed.
  • Each application must be signed by the Principal Investigator (applicant) and all persons providing expert input in specialized areas of the research (e.g., statistician, safety officer, supervisor of scheduled medicinal substances). Unsigned applications will not be considered.
  • Applications must be written clearly, concisely, and within the specified length limits.
  • Completed applications should be submitted electronically to the BioRTC Secretariat at: mahmoud.maina@edu.biortc.com and copy ddao@edu.biortc.com
    Submissions are due a weeks to the monthly BioRTC AREC meeting. The submission date will determine when an application will be reviewed.
  • Approved projects are subject to annual progress reporting in line with BioRTC and AREC requirements.
  • All enquiries related to BioRTC AREC matters should be directed to the coordinator/Secretary, BioRTC AREC.

Section 2: Research Outline

(major aims, animals used, procedures, benefits)
(If ongoing, approval number and year)

Section 3: Ethical Justification

(pain, death endpoints, reuse, restraint, primates, etc.)

Section 4: Animals

List each species and the estimated number of animals required for the entire duration of the project.
Specify the source (e.g. institutional animal facility, licensed breeder, field collection) and location where animals will be housed or studied.
Include strain or breed, age, sex, weight, and scientific justification for selecting these animals.
Describe how the experimental design minimises the number of animals used and avoids unnecessary repetition.
Describe non-animal or less sentient alternatives considered and explain why they are not suitable.
Describe measures taken to minimise pain, distress, or suffering, including anaesthesia, analgesia, and humane endpoints.

Section 5: Procedures

Describe procedures step-by-step from acquisition to completion or euthanasia.
Describe monitoring methods, minimisation of distress, and actions in case of complications.
Specify scientific and humane endpoints (e.g. tumour size limits, weight loss thresholds).
Describe outcomes after study completion, including euthanasia methods and responsible personnel.
Identify potential risks to personnel, animals, or the environment and mitigation measures.
Include seasonal constraints or time-sensitive aspects of the study, if applicable.

Section 6: Housing & Husbandry

Describe transport type, duration, confinement, and number of animals transported.
Describe location, cage or pen size, group or individual housing, and husbandry conditions.
Describe enrichment provided to support species-specific behaviours.
Specify type and frequency of feeding.
Specify the maximum period animals will be kept.

Section 7: Personnel

Summarise relevant experience in animal research.
Describe training or supervision arrangements if the investigator lacks experience.
List names, departments, roles, and relevant experience.

Section 8: Collaborators

Section 9: Monitoring

Section 10: Declaration

Declaration:
I confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete. I agree to comply with BioRTC policies on animal research ethics and understand that no research may commence without written ethical approval.

Section 11: Attachments

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