Merit Review Processes for Animal Research

Merit reviews serve to ensure that animal-based research and teaching activities are both scientifically valid and educationally necessary, aligning with ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Scientific merit reviews are required for all research projects, assessing the validity, feasibility, and potential contribution of the study to ensure scientific rigor. Pedagogical merit reviews, on the other hand, are specific to teaching and training contexts, evaluating whether the use of animals is essential to achieve learning objectives and if alternative methods are feasible.

Below you can find a description for each process, helping you determine which review applies to your project.

Scientific Merit Review

Research studies involving animals must demonstrate scientific merit before being reviewed by the University of Alberta's Animal Care and Use Committees (ACUC). Protocols funded by agencies that conduct independent peer-reviewed scientific merit assessments—such as CIHR, NSERC, and similar organizations—are automatically deemed to have Scientific Merit. However, Animal Use Protocols that have not undergone an independent third-party peer review as part of the grant process must undergo a separate merit review. This process is overseen by the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) through the Research Ethics Office (REO).

Researchers will need to complete the PI Research Summary Template and suggest two potential experts in the field. While these experts may be consulted, the REO may also seek reviews from other external sources. Only after receiving two favorable scientific merit reviews will the application proceed to the ACUC for ethical review.

Forms

The Scientific Merit Review process typically takes approximately 3 months to complete.

Pedagogical Merit Review

All animal-based teaching and training activities, including credit courses and professional development workshops offered by the University of Alberta, require the submission and approval of an Animal Use Protocol (AUP) by the Course Instructor.

Per CCAC guidelines, these applications must undergo a pedagogical merit review before being reviewed by an Animal Care and Use Committee. For ongoing courses, this review is required every four years or whenever the course content involving animals changes.

  1. As part of the AUP submission process, the Principal Investigator should complete the Pedagogical Merit Review of Live Animal Based Teaching or Training Form A
  2. This form should be uploaded to the AUP in the Documentation section (Section 17 4.0), along with the required Attachments per Form A (in Section 17 5.0)
    1. Course Syllabus highlighting the specific animal use
    2. Lab Manual (sections pertaining to animal use)
    3. Other relevant handouts or documents:
      1. If this is a course that involves competencies or skills required by a regulatory body (medical, veterinary, etc.) attach the document that outlines the requirement.
      2. If this is a credit course or part of an Academic Program, provide a summary of the Academic Program that this course fits into, along with the intended learning outcomes for the program, indicating how animal use is necessary to achieve program outcomes.
      3. If the Course Syllabus does not clearly outline the learning outcomes and goals of the course relating to animal use, attach a document describing them.
      4. Attach any prior student assessments or course or session evaluations that were done that provide feedback on the animal-based teaching/training.
      5. Any other relevant documents.
  3. Submitting the AUP in the online system will initiate the Pedagogical Merit Review Process.
  4. The Principal Investigator will be contacted (via email outside of the online ethics system) by the Pedagogical Merit Committee members for any questions related to the Form A/submission. If any changes are required the AUP will be sent back to the applicant to make changes in the online application system.
  5.  Once the Pedagogical Merit Review process has been completed, the application will be forwarded to the ACUC to initiate the review process within the online ethics system.

Forms

Considerations for Instructors

Instructors should design their course objectives, outcomes, lab plans, assignments, and assessment methods with these key principles:

  • Clearly outline any learning objectives and outcomes that require the use of animals in the formal course plan.
  • Ensure that assessment methods align with the desired outcomes and learning activities, especially when involving animals.
  • Clearly describe any learning activities that involve live animals or animal-derived samples.
  • If live animals are central to the learning objectives, activities, and assessments, this alignment supports the pedagogical merit of using animals in teaching or training.
Please note: All reviewer-recommended changes must be completed in time for the Merit Review Committee to confirm Pedagogical Merit and for the ACUC to approve the AUP before animal-based activities can begin. We recommend submitting AUPs at least 4–6 months before the course term starts.
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