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IACUC Frequently Asked Questions

What must be reviewed by the IACUC?
Who must submit an animal care and use application (protocol) to the IACUC?
Do field studies involving observation of wildlife have to be reviewed and approved by the IACUC?
What is the process for getting an animal protocol reviewed by the IACUC?
How long is an IACUC protocol approval good for?
What are the training requirements?

What must be reviewed by the IACUC?

All research, teaching, display, and husbandry involving the use and/or care of live vertebrate animals, regardless of funding source. 

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Who must submit an animal care and use application (protocol) to the IACUC?

• Any EIU faculty member, staff member, graduate student or undergraduate student conducting research involving the use of live vertebrate animals.

Note: Student researchers are required to have a faculty sponsor as the PI

• Any EIU faculty member teaching a course that involves the use of live vertebrate animals.

A course coordinator can file one protocol for all sections of a course as long as all faculty members teaching the course are named in and sign off on the protocol.

• Any EIU faculty or staff member who is responsible for maintaining a display of live vertebrate animals.
• Any EIU faculty or staff member who is responsible for live vertebrate animal husbandry.

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Do field studies involving observation of wildlife have to be reviewed and approved by the IACUC?

Field studies of free-living, wild, vertebrate animals in their natural environment may be exempt from IACUC approval if the study does not:

• “Involve an invasive procedure, harm, or materially alter the behavior of an animal under study”.  (9 CFR 1.1 – Animal Welfare Regulations)                  
• Involve the capture, handling, housing, transportation, treatment, or euthanasia of animals
• Cause excessive disturbance of animals due to study activities

If all of the above conditions are met, and there are no other requirements for IACUC approval (such as by a funding source), then Request for Exemption from IACUC Approval for Field Studies may be completed and submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

The IACUC chair or other IACUC member designated by the chair will determine the exemption status of the study.

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What is the process for getting an animal protocol reviewed by the IACUC?

Submit the following to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (all forms can be found on the IACUC Forms webpage at the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs website):

1. Relevant Application for Animal Care and Use and applicable attachments
2. Evidence of training

Currently, all protocols are being reviewed by the full IACUC committee, which meets approximately once a month during the academic year.

You will be notified if your protocol is approved or requires modifications and re-submission to the IACUC in order to secure approval.

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How long is an IACUC protocol approval good for?

If a protocol is externally funded or involves the use of a USDA covered species, approval is good for one year and the active protocol will need to be reviewed annually.

Research protocols that are not externally funded, and teaching, display, and husbandry protocols will be reviewed every 3 years.

At the annual review, if a protocol is unchanged, or has only minor changes, Form B, Continuing Review of an Existing Animal Care and Use Protocol, should be submitted for IACUC review.

The triennial review or significant changes to a protocol require submission of a new protocol using Form A. 

Any proposed modifications to an approved protocol must be approved by the IACUC prior to implementation. To request a modification review, Form M must be submitted. If changes are significant, a new and complete Animal Care & Use Application may be required.

When a project has been completed or a protocol terminated, Form C, Completion/Termination of Animal Care and Use, should be submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

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What are the training requirements?

Reseachers, including instructors, graduate students, undergraduates, and support staff must complete training in the care and use of animals and in occupational health and safety. Completion of this training must be documented and submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. See the IACUC Training web page for more details.

Students who will handle animals only for class assignments without receiving research credit will need to complete training in the care and use of animals and in occupational health and safety. See the IACUC Training web page for more details.

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