Guidelines for obtaining approval for the use of animals

State, Federal, and PHS regulations require that ALL uses of animals within the institution are reviewed and approved for humane care by the University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) regardless of funding sources.

The IACUC requires a full application be submitted for review every three years, whether or not changes have been made to a protocol. For annual reviews, a short questionnaire must be completed for submission to the IACUC. Notification will be sent to the PI one month before the anniversary date of the approved protocol. If at any time, a change is needed to a protocol, an Animal Use Minor Amendment Form must be submitted and approved by the IACUC before applying this change to the protocol.

No project may begin or animals purchased until approval has been granted by the IACUC. For continuing projects (annual review, 3 year renewal), no additional animals can be entered into the study or additional animals purchased without continuing IACUC approval. Research cannot continue past the expiration date of the project without IACUC re-approval. Approved protocols are held on file for a period of three years beyond completion of the protocol. Approved protocols are read by authorized personnel of the federal, state, and accreditation agencies.