Training Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Members
Number: IACUC-POL-028
Responsible Office: Office of Research and Creative Scholarship (ORCS)
Applies to: IACUC Committee and Institutional Official
1. Purpose
Federal law requires that the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) make recommendations to the Institutional Official (IO) for development and administration of animal care and use training programs for all personnel involved in the use of animals in teaching or research. The members of the IACUC require training in order to understand and properly conduct IACUC responsibilities and functions. It is the policy of the 91次元 IACUC to provide and document a comprehensive training program for all committee members.
2. Policy
All IACUC members must complete initial and ongoing training to ensure they understand the regulatory framework, ethical principles, and institutional expectations governing the care and use of vertebrate animals in research, teaching, and testing.
3. Procedure
New IACUC Committee Members
All new IACUC members must complete an IACUC introduction meeting before reviewing protocols or participating in committee actions. The following is reviewed and completed:
- Overview of the institution’s animal care and use program
- Explanation of IACUC roles, responsibilities, and regulatory authority
- Review of institutional animal care and use policies and procedures
- Information on reporting concerns, noncompliance, and whistleblower protections
- Tour of facilities provided by the LAR Facility Manager.
- Access to electronic protocol submission platform.
New Member Training Requirements (to be completed within 1 month of appointment)
- New IACUC members will receive a copy of the following reference materials:
- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
- Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations
- Required CITI Training (depending on member status)
- IACUC Member or IACUC Administrator Course
- Institutional Official Course
- IACUC Chair Course
- IACUC Community Member (non-affiliated, non-scientific members)
Ongoing Training for All IACUC Members
All IACUC members are expected to participate in ongoing training that includes:
- Required CITI Training (depending on member status), must be completed every three years
- (Free online training through the USDA and Oregon State University)
- Educational material presented at IACUC meetings on topics such as:
- Monthly review of Lab Animal Protocol and scenarios with discussion
- Updates and reports on new/changes to regulation
- Opportunity to attend an IACUC 101 course at least once during their tenure
- Opportunity to attend OLAW and USDA webinars and conferences.
- Opportunity to attend applicable nationwide conferences
- Opportunity to attend PRIM&R webinars and conferences
4. Documentation of Training
The IACUC Coordinator will maintain individual training files for each IACUC member. Files must include:
- Documentation of all training completed by the member
- Documentation of any training the member has provided to others
- Records of service on related institutional committees such as the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, or Institutional Review Board
The IACUC Coordinator will make training records available to the IACUC, federal oversight agencies, or qualified inspectors upon request.
5. References
- Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR).
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
- The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th ed.). 2011. National Academies Press.
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). (FAQ F4).
- National Institutes of Health. Notice Number NOT-OD-12-020
- AAALAC International.
6. Review, Approval and Version History
|
Version |
Date |
Description of Changes |
Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1.0 |
September 7, 2005 |
Initial policy creation |
IACUC |
|
2.0 |
September 26, 2017 |
Review |
Heivilin |
|
3.0 |
November 25, 2025 |
Review and rewrite |
Hicks |