Overview of Animal Research Ethics (AREC)
UKZN subscribes to strict national and international norms concerning the ethical use of animals in teaching and research. The UKZN Animal Research Ethics Committee(UKZN-AREC) resides in the University of KwaZulu-Natal Research Office and is tasked with ensuring that scientific research and teaching activities involving animals at the University of KwaZulu-Natal comply contextually with the relevant provisions of the National Department of Health, South African Ethics in Health Research guidelines (NDOH 2024, 3rd ed.) and the South African National Standard for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (SANS 10386:2021, 2nd ed.), and the UKZN policies for animal use (Research Policy V).
The UKZN-AREC is registered with the SA Department of Health’s National Health Research Ethics Council (nhrec.health.gov.za) (Reg. no. AREC-200111-006) and has an active US National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH OLAW) assurance (Reg. no. F18-00371).
All relevant information, SOPs, training opportunities, application templates, RIG training material, and meeting dates are on the committee’s resource page: UKZN-AREC RESOURCE PAGE
The UKZN-AREC is responsible for reviewing applications for all animal research at UKZN and will only approve applications where researchers can show that animals are essential (see SANS10386:2021). All applications are reviewed and returned to applicants for revisions before serving on a committee meeting for discussion and decision. Furthermore, the committee is responsible for post-approval assistance to animal researchers and all animal facilities operating at the university. Activities are described in the committee SOPs.
Once approved, any protocol and research team change must be reviewed by the UKZN-AREC before being applied. Approved protocols are valid for one year from the date on the approval letter, and renewal applications must be submitted to UKZN-AREC before the application lapses. A close-out report is required once the application has lapsed or if no further renewals are made. If continuation of a lapsed project is required, a new application must be submitted.
Applications must be detailed according to the SANS10386:2021 (section 5.5) and ARRIVE guidelines. Supervisors must work closely with students on their applications to prevent any delays. The downloadable application forms may be used for planning and discussion purposes and to capture any revisions made to the application after review. While the information must be copied onto the RIG system with the first application, any revised versions can be uploaded as attachments. Templates can be downloaded from the committee’s resource page.
All AREC applications must be made on the UKZN Research Information Gateway (rig.ukzn.ac.za).
The RIG Online Help Page provides access to comprehensive User Guide documents and training videos designed to help applicants familiarize themselves with the RIG System. Visit: https://ics.ukzn.ac.za/rig-online-help-1/
All persons conducting animal work must have relevant, assessed training. Any training that complies with the SANS10386:2021 requirements (see section 5.10 of the standard) will be accepted, but a link to the online UKZN-based assessed training (Moodle) can be found on the resource page.
Link to UKZN – AREC Resources page: UKZN-AREC RESOURCE PAGE
Contact Us
- Karen Reinertsen
- Assistant Administrative Officer
- (031) 260 8850
- reinertsenk@ukzn.ac.za