NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 8910.1D Effective Date: February 09, 2022 Expiration Date: February 09, 2027

Subject: Care and Use of Animals

Responsible Office: Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1 Animal Research at NASA

1.1.1 Research designed to advance our understanding of how the space environment affects living systems and to ensure the health, well-being, and productivity of humans in space often requires PIs to utilize on animal models. In some cases, basic research is conducted to understand how space conditions (e.g., microgravity, space radiation, isolation) affect different physiological systems (e.g., cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological). In other cases, applied studies are conducted to understand the mechanisms that underlie adverse health effects that astronauts experience and to develop and evaluate potential interventions to mitigate these conditions. Studies may be conducted by scientists in spacecraft or aircraft, or on the ground in laboratories or specialized facilities that can simulate some aspects of the space environment.

1.1.2 The APRB is a mechanism for communication and discussion among the Agency’s animal care community regarding planning, activities, processes, and methodologies, associated with the care and use of animals in scientific research funded or sponsored by NASA or conducted in NASA facilities, aircraft, or spacecraft, including commercial facilities, aircraft, and spacecraft that are funded or sponsored by NASA or use NASA resources.

1.1.3 An IACUC is a committee that oversees and evaluates research involving animals to ensure their humane care and use. There are four NASA IACUCs. Three of these IACUCs address ground and aircraft research: the Johnson Space Center IACUC, Ames Research Center IACUC, and Kennedy Space Center IACUC. The fourth IACUC, the Flight IACUC, established through NASA Headquarters, addresses spaceflight and aircraft research. In addition, NASA contracts with institutions to perform pre-launch services, ground control activities, and post-flight services. The NASA IACUCs responsible for addressing ground research and these institutional IACUCs are collectively known as Ground IACUCs.

1.2 Policy Implementation

1.2.1 NPD 8910.1 and this NPR combined with all applicable Federal, state, and local animal welfare laws and regulations, policies, and guidelines, Animal Welfare Act of 1966, 7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq; Animal Welfare, 9 CFR, Ch. I, Subch. A, Pts. 1-3, Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy), US Department of Health and Human Services, Revised 2015; The Guide; U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training, 85 FR 12059, (May 20, 1985); Policy and Guidelines for the Use and Care of Animals in Space-borne Research, COSPAR Information Bulletin: Space Research Today, Number 169, August 2007; International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals, Council for International Organization of Medical Sciences and International Council for Laboratory Animal Science, December 2012, form NASA’s policy for research involving animals. NASA policy, NPD 8910.1 and this NPR, applies to all research involving animals conducted or supported by NASA or using NASA resources.

1.2.2 NPD 8910.1 details the policy and responsibilities of Headquarters and the Centers, while this NPR defines procedures and specific NASA requirements levied in addition to the applicable Federal, state, and local animal welfare laws and regulations, policies, and guidelines. The APRB and IACUCs implement these requirements through charters and/or other Center documentation.

1.3 NASA Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals Implementation

1.3.1 The NASA Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals recognize that the use of animals in research involves responsibility for the stewardship of the animals, and responsibility to the scientific community and society. Stewardship is a universal responsibility that extends beyond the immediate use of the animals for research to include their acquisition, care, and disposition while responsibility to the scientific community and society requires an appropriate understanding of, and sensitivity to, scientific needs and community attitudes toward the use of animals.

1.3.2 The bioethical principles of respect for life, societal benefit, and nonmaleficence provide a framework to consider the ethical challenges that arise from research using animals and they will be used by NASA to explicitly evaluate research protocols. The ethical review will be conducted at the time of IACUC review.

1.4 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health and National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA has entered into an agreement with OLAW to obtain services in general and comprehensive administration and coordination of the PHS Policy. These services will assist the IACUCs and Institutional Officials (IO) with negotiating Animal Welfare Assurances, evaluating allegations of noncompliance, advising the implementation and interpretation of the PHS Policy, authorizing waivers to the PHS Policy and conducting site visits.

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