BACKGROUND – CEP/UNAERP

UNAERP Human Research Ethics Committee (CEP) was created on July 12, 1996, by Resolution nº196 / 96 - CONSUN and registered in Brasília / DF with the National Research Ethics Commission - CONEP, on August 31 of 1998.

CEP/UNAERP FUNCTIONS

CEP is responsible for evaluating and monitoring the ethical aspects of all research involving human beings. This role is well established in the various international ethical guidelines (Declaration of Helsinki, International Guidelines for Biomedical Research involving Human Beings - CIOMS) and Brazilian guidelines (Res. CNS no. 196/96 and complementary), guidelines that underscore the need for ethical review and scientific research involving human beings, aiming to safeguard the dignity, rights, security and well-being of the research subject.

PLATAFORMA BRASIL

Plataforma Brasil is a nationally based and unified portal for research records involving human beings for the entire CEP / CONEP system.

It allows surveys to be followed up in their different stages - from submission to final approval by CEP and CONEP, when necessary - even making it possible to follow up in the field phase, sending partial reports and final research reports (when completed).

The system also allows the presentation of documents also in digital media, providing society with access to public data of all approved surveys.

Through the Internet, it is possible for all involved to access, through a shared environment, the information together, significantly reducing the processing time of the projects throughout the CEP / CONEP system. All doubts on how to operate the system can be solved at: http://aplicacao.saude.gov.br/platformbrasil/login.jsf on the homepage in the items: Manuais da Plataforma Brasil and Tutorial da Plataforma Brasil.

ETHICS COMMITTEE ON THE USE OF ANIMALS - CEUA

The CEUA (Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals) is intended to make the ethical review of any proposal for scientific or educational activity that involves the use of nonhuman live animals, essentially vertebrate groups, under the responsibility of the institution following and promoting national and international regulatory guidelines for research and teaching involving such animals.

This Committee has been created in accordance with Lei Arouca (Law Number 11.794, October 8th, 2018). It is a paramount duty for CEUA the welfare of animals in their integrity, dignity and vulnerability, as well as ensure the development of research according to high ethical and academic standards.

It is understood by use: handling, capture, collection, creation, experimentation (invasive or noninvasive), examinations or surgical procedures, or any other type of intervention that can cause stress, pain, suffering, harm and / or death. Use of non-live animals must obey the law and internal regulations, as well as being compatible, by analogy with the ethical standard of CEUA regiment.

Before any activity involving an animal, the researcher or professor must submit its proposal to the CEUA, with the knowledge of his/her superior, and can only start the research or educational activity involving animals after the evaluation of the Committee, presented in Opinion.

CEUA's principle is not to inhibit the use of animals, but to promote the rational use of this resource, always seeking to refine techniques and replace models, which allow the reduction in the use of animals. The purpose of this conduct is to promote a constant improvement in the efficiency of the use of animals both in research and in teaching.

BACKGROUND – CEUA

The use of animals in research has always been present in the history of science, but it is not possible to specify an exact date of its beginning. Following a trend typical of developing countries, Brazil has shown a significant advance in scientific production in recent decades, largely in the areas of biological sciences and health.

In this sense, it has long been necessary to create rules and regulations on the use of animals in experimental research, especially with the aim of preventing abuse, misuse and mistreatment. In 2008, Resolution 879/08 of the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine and Federal Law 11,794 (known as the Arouca Law in honor of the author of its draft, Deputy Sérgio Arouca), which regulate the use of animals, were sanctioned, opening a new chapter in teaching and scientific research in Brazil.

The Arouca Law establishes the creation of the National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation (CONCEA), responsible for accrediting institutions that create, maintain and / or use animals intended for scientific purposes, and establish standards for humanitarian use and due care with experimental animals.

Also according to Law 11.794 (2008), it is an indispensable condition that institutions with teaching or research activities with animals establish their own Ethics Committees on the Use of Animals (CEUA) and that properly registered, act as advisory bodies, supervisors and educators in teaching and research activities involving animals. The CEUA is responsible for:

I - comply with and enforce, within the scope of its powers, the provisions of Law 11,794 and other rules applicable to the use of animals for teaching and research, especially in the resolutions of CONCEA;

II - previously examine the teaching and research procedures to be carried out at the institution to which it is linked, in order to determine their compatibility with the applicable legislation;

III - keep an updated record of the teaching and research procedures carried out, or in progress, at the institution, sending a copy to CONCEA;

IV - keep a register of researchers who carry out teaching and research procedures, sending a copy to CONCEA;

V - issue, within the scope of its powers, certificates that are necessary for research funding agencies, scientific journals or others;

VI - immediately notify CONCEA and the health authorities of the occurrence of any accident with animals in accredited institutions, providing information that allows for sanitation actions.

CEUA / UNAERP is based on the ethical principles in animal experimentation and the assumptions established in the regulations of the Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine, Brazilian Society of Science in Laboratory Animals and National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation.

As provided for in the legislation, CEUA / UNAERP is composed of veterinarian, biologist, teachers and researchers in the areas of biological sciences and health. CEUA / UNAERP members act independently and unpaid.