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Amending an existing approval

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Amendment vs New Application?

The decision of whether to amend an existing ethics approval or create a new application must be based on the intended aims of the project work. The aims of each ethics application should be clear and concise; and relevant to a specific study rather than encompass a larger field of work. Ethics applications for discrete studies enable effective and efficient review by the animal ethics committees, and are clear for all persons who need to refer to the approval when the project work is being undertaken e.g. researchers, animal house staff etc. 

A new application is required for new experiments that are beyond the original project aims - including those that build on findings from an existing approved project. 

A new application is always required when: 

  • The research work has progressed resulting in new aims 
  • The new work involves a significant change in the welfare impact on the animals
  • There are significant changes to the experimental model

Amendments to an existing ethics application should be for relatively minor changes to already approved experiments and fit within the original aims of the ethics approval. 

Examples of suitable amendments to an existing ethics application include: 

  • Updates to the project team listing
  • Additions or changes to locations
  • Minor changes/corrections to animal details: changes to source, fate, transportation details, strain, animal numbers
  • Changes to experimental design, procedures or substances because of recent studies that have been completed – which impact the 3Rs
  • Project extension requests
  • Addition of training, permits, consent forms etc

Before commencing an amendment, if you have any questions, please reach out to Animal Ethics for guidance.

Submitting amendment forms

An application for amendment must be submitted to the AEC before any change to the approved project occurs (the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th edition, 2013 (updated 2021), Clause 2.4.10) 'the Animal Use Code'. This amendment may be considered by an Executive function of a registered AEC in line with the Animal Use Code, Clause 2.2.23, following the categories deemed appropriate by the University of Queensland Animal Ethics Management Committee.

To Extend the Duration of an Approved Project

An application must be submitted to the AEC prior to the current expiry date of the project. 

Repeating an experiment

The Animal Use Code states the following in relation to repeating experiments: '1.23 Activities involving the use of animals must not be repeated within a project or between projects unless such repetition is essential for the purpose or design of the project (e.g. sound experimental design, statistical analysis, corroboration by the same or another investigator)'.

If the experiment has been performed as outlined in the original application, the results look good, but will need to be repeated to confirm a result, you must submit a amendment requesting additional animals and provide strong justification for the need to repeat the experiment. 

Submit your amendment

Please note: If your animal ethics project was approved prior to the introduction of MyResearch, your project is considered a legacy project. You will be limited to making minor amendments to a legacy project, within MyResearch. These include:

  • Change to animal details (e.g. breed/strain)
  • Change to personnel and location
  • Extension in project duration up to 6 months

Amendments beyond the above, will need to be submitted as a new full application in MyResearch.

To amend your already approved project login to MyResearch.

Information on how to initiate a project amendment can be found in the Systems Training Hub. Additional self-help resources to support the use of the new MyResearch system are available from https://systems-training.its.uq.edu.au/myresearch.

Important Notes for your amendment application:

  • It is important to include in the Amendment Summary advice as to which experiment the changes relate to and how the amendment fits within the original aims of the project.  
  • If any of the experimental work has already been completed the details of this work should not be deleted from the application
  • If there are additional cohorts within an experiment where the method needs to be altered part way through, then it should be made clear in the amendment how many animals have already been used under the original approved method and what changes to this are required for the remaining animals. 
  • Any amendments that involve changes to experimental design (no matter how minor) must include commentary in the Welfare Classification section of the application of any expected change to the welfare impact of the project on the animals. If no change is expected, then this should be stated.

If you have any further questions or are unsure which AEC relates to your work, contact Animal Ethics.