Starting from December 1, 2023, all New AEEC applications must be submitted electronically through Tick@lab platform.
To learn more, please access the tick@lab page.
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AEEC application process
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Principle investigators should submit their new application to AEEC secretariat for pre-screening on the Tick@lab platform.
All personnel listed in the signatory section must sign the document electronically after finalizing the application with AEEC secretariat. The application will be forwarded to AEEC panel for review. The application should demonstrate:
Comments from AEEC members will be returned to the principle investigator. Please revise the application and return to the AEEC secretariat through Tick@lab platform. If no response is received from the PI for more than 60 days, the application will be withdrawn. All personnel involved in animal experiments must complete the relevant training modules prior to the start of animal experiments. Please note that approval will only be granted after the completion of the required training. Under normal circumstances, the approval will be granted in ~10 weeks after AEEC member review. Please allow adequate time for grant applications. Please find the user guide for Tick@lab applications. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact the support email: [email protected] |
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Power Calculations: What is a suitable sample size for my experiment?
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A power calculation is used to determine the appropriate group size for your experiments. To perform a power calculation, you will need the following information:
The AEEC recommends researchers to use a power calculation tool: G*Power. G*Power is a free power analysis tool developed by Heinrich-Heine-Universität. The software is capable to provide power calculations for more complex analysis for t-tests, F tests, χ2 tests, z tests and exact tests. The tool has been widely used in universities across the globe and has been cited over 70,000 times. Link to the G*Power tool: https://www.psychologie.hhu.de/arbeitsgruppen/allgemeine-psychologie-und-arbeitspsychologie/gpower.html Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41, 1149-1160 Training on G*Power developed by UCLA: https://stats.oarc.ucla.edu/other/gpower/ |
You may provide a screenshot of G*Power results as supplementary information for your AEEC application.
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All researchers must be licensed from the Hong Kong Government Department of Health, under the Animals (Control of Experiments) Ordinance CAP 340, and in accordance with the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, Cap. 169. Applications forms are available from The Department of Health(DOH).
The Licence must cover the procedures specified in the project application. While it is essential to accurately describe the procedures in the Licence, it is also important not to restrict the scope of the procedures so that numerous Licence applications are required.
Please ensure your animal license are valid for at least 4 months at the time of application submission.
*If the animal license is not available yet, applicant can submit copy of Acknowledge Letter from DOH and copy of signed animal license application form (Annex with personal information is not required). Official approval will only be granted upon receival of all documents.
*The PI may be exempted from holding an animal license if he/she will not perform any experiments. The PI still hold full responsibility to the animals issued to the project.
The Licence must cover the procedures specified in the project application. While it is essential to accurately describe the procedures in the Licence, it is also important not to restrict the scope of the procedures so that numerous Licence applications are required.
Please ensure your animal license are valid for at least 4 months at the time of application submission.
*If the animal license is not available yet, applicant can submit copy of Acknowledge Letter from DOH and copy of signed animal license application form (Annex with personal information is not required). Official approval will only be granted upon receival of all documents.
*The PI may be exempted from holding an animal license if he/she will not perform any experiments. The PI still hold full responsibility to the animals issued to the project.
Written approval shall be obtained from the University Safety Office.
The approval MUST state the location where the work is approved for, the pathogen that has been approved, and its use in animals is approved.
For biological safety, please refer to the guidelines from USO. For experiments involving neurotoxins or cytotoxic material, a copy of signed SOP should also be submitted to AEEC for record.
*If the safety approval is under application, please state 'under process' and provide date of submission. Official approval will only be granted upon receival of all documents.
The approval MUST state the location where the work is approved for, the pathogen that has been approved, and its use in animals is approved.
For biological safety, please refer to the guidelines from USO. For experiments involving neurotoxins or cytotoxic material, a copy of signed SOP should also be submitted to AEEC for record.
*If the safety approval is under application, please state 'under process' and provide date of submission. Official approval will only be granted upon receival of all documents.
All animal locations, including holding room, procedure rooms, behaviour rooms, investigator's laboratory and vehicles should be listed on the application.
All study areas (with animal holding >12 hour) are subjected to AEEC inspection every six months.
No animals should be kept outside animal holding areas overnight without approval from the AEEC. In addition, animals should only be brought to experiment locations listed on the AEEC procedure forms and the Animal License.
Under the assessment from University Safety Office, some procedures may be requested to conduct in ABSL-2 facilities. Please specify in the application if ABSL-2 facilities will be used.
Entry to animal facilities may subject to facility regulations and separate approvals. Please contact the corresponding facility manager for requirements.
All personnel involved in animal experiments must complete the relevant training modules prior to the start of animal experiments. This applies to all personnel listed on the protocol, including PI with oversight responsibilities.
The training is aimed to enhance knowledge in the appropriate handling, care, and use of laboratory animals, promote continuous education in animal welfare, and align with international standards.
For specific training requirements, please refer to your AEEC application on tick@lab, under Personnel – General AUP training.
*Please note that approval for new protocols and amendments will only be granted after the completion of the required training.
The training is aimed to enhance knowledge in the appropriate handling, care, and use of laboratory animals, promote continuous education in animal welfare, and align with international standards.
For specific training requirements, please refer to your AEEC application on tick@lab, under Personnel – General AUP training.
*Please note that approval for new protocols and amendments will only be granted after the completion of the required training.
Do i need AEEC Approval for using animal tissue?
All teaching and research proposals utilizing living vertebrate animals must be submitted for evaluation by AEEC. Application must also be submitted when utilizing animal tissue if the animal was sacrificed solely and specifically for a research or teaching purpose.
You may be exempted from an Animal License from Department of Health if only euthanasia will be performed.
You may be exempted from an Animal License from Department of Health if only euthanasia will be performed.
Who needs to be listed on the Application?
All personnel who will oversee and/or conduct the animal related procedures described in the protocol will need to be listed on the application, with qualifications. This includes PIs, graduate and undergraduate students, research staff and technicians who will be conducting experiment procedures.
Can I include non-cuhk locations on the application?
AEEC only oversees CUHK locations. PI planning to take animals to an external organization will need to obtain ethics approval from the external organization.
Please state on the procedure forms where procedures will be performed, and if any transportation will be involved.
Please state on the procedure forms where procedures will be performed, and if any transportation will be involved.
Do i need to include zebrafish or xenopus eggs in my application?
Larval forms of fish and amphibians have vertebrates and are covered by the Cap. 340 under experimental animals. Regulations will be applied to off-spring of egg-laying vertebrates after hatching. The hatching process begins 2-3 days post fertilization (dpf) and animals start to feed approximately at 4 dpf.
Number of Zebrafish and xenopus larvae younger than 3dpf can be exempted.
However, the breeding process with adult animals will need to be described in the protocol.
Number of Zebrafish and xenopus larvae younger than 3dpf can be exempted.
However, the breeding process with adult animals will need to be described in the protocol.
I am working on mouse foetuses prior to birth, do i need a separate experiment form?
Yes. Please use a separate form to describe procedures conducted on fetus including anaesthesia and euthanasia.
In general terms, investigators should assume that foetuses have the same requirements of anaesthesia and analgesia as adult animals of the same species. In relation to rodent foetuses, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has suggested the following guidelines to assist Animal Care and Use Committees in reviewing applications.
In general terms, investigators should assume that foetuses have the same requirements of anaesthesia and analgesia as adult animals of the same species. In relation to rodent foetuses, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has suggested the following guidelines to assist Animal Care and Use Committees in reviewing applications.
- Foetuses up to 14 days in gestation: Neural development at this stage is minimal and pain perception is considered unlikely. Euthanasia of the mother or removal of the foetus should ensure rapid death of the foetus due to loss of blood supply and non-viability of foetuses at this stage of development. ;
- Foetuses 15 days in gestation to birth: The literature on the development of pain pathways suggests the possibility of pain perception at this time. Whereas foetuses at this age are not sensitive to inhalant anesthetics, euthanasia may be induced by the skillful injection of chemical anesthetics. Decapitation with surgical scissors, cervical dislocation, or rapid freezing (immersion in liquid nitrogen) are acceptable physical methods of euthanasia. When chemical fixation of the whole foetus is required, foetuses should be anesthetized prior to immersion in or perfusion with fixative solutions. Anesthesia may be induced by hypothermia of the foetus, by injection of the foetus with a chemical anesthetic, or by deep anesthesia of the mother with a chemical agent that crosses the placenta, e.g. pentobarbitone. The institute veterinarian should be consulted for considerations of foetal sensitivity to specific anaesthetic agents. When foetuses are not required for study, the method chosen for euthanasia of a pregnant mother must ensure rapid death of the foetus.
Can I be exempted from AEEC Approval?
The AEEC can issue a letter of exemption on request if the PI confirmed that the project do not involved live animals experimentation owned by CUHK.
The AEEC cannot provide exemption for projects involving invertebrates. The PI should submit an AEEC application for invertebrates describing study rationale and the principles of 3Rs.
The AEEC cannot provide exemption for projects involving invertebrates. The PI should submit an AEEC application for invertebrates describing study rationale and the principles of 3Rs.