How to Apply to the IACUC

All IACUC protocol forms (for protocol approval or modification) are to be submitted to the IACUC Office, Old Main, Room 302.

Questions regarding SRU's IACUC or its functions should be emailed to iacuc@sru.edu or via phone at 724.738.4846.

Steps to Apply to the IACUC:

Complete the required training course on the ethical care and use of animals in research, training and testing, as well as focusing on the care and use of particular species. The IACUC subscribes to the CITI Online Training Program to comply with this regulation. Additional information and the CITI website can be found in the Online Training tab below.
Complete the IACUC Protocol Form, Animal Tissue Protocol Form, or the Protocol Modification Request Form found in the Forms tab below.
Submit your Form to the IACUC Office, Old Main, Room 302.

The principal investigator must have an approved protocol from the IACUC before procurement of any animals. DO NOT begin your study until approval has been granted. This is a violation of Federal regulations.

SRU IACUC Policy: Animal Use Exemptions

A limited range of teaching and research projects using vertebrate animals are currently exempt from IACUC approval. Specifically, these may include:

1) Field Studies

Research and teaching field studies are exempted from IACUC protocol submission and review provided that such studies are (a) only observational and (b) do NOT involve capturing or trapping, physical or chemical restraint or invasive procedures.

2) Studies That Do Not Use Live Animals

Research or teaching protocols that do not involve the care or use of live animals (i.e., only involve the use of animal cadavers, body parts, or tissues including blood) are exempted from IACUC protocol submission and review provided that the materials used are obtained by an IACUC approved source and are disposed of in accordance with SRU policy for hazardous and infectious waste.

IACUC approved sources for animal cadavers, body parts and tissues:

(a) US Department of Agriculture (USDA) licensed dealers

(b) an IACUC approved animal use protocol designating subject cadaver, parts or tissues as an approved disposition

(d) Commercial vendors of preserved specimens for use in educational activities (e.g., Carolina Biological Supply, Nebraska Scientific, Wards Science)

Investigators and instructors wishing to perform research or teaching that uses animal cadavers, body parts, or tissues including blood not listed above must (a) file an IACUC Animal Tissue Protocol and receive approval, or (2) submit a request for exemption with the SRU IACUC at:

SRU IACUC Office

Old Main, Room 302,

Slippery Rock, PA 16057

Phone: 724.738.4846

iacuc@sru.edu

Any exemption request must include the PI’s name, office address, departmental affiliation and e-mail address, as well as a description of proposed animal tissues and their use, the source of the materials and their storage and final disposition.

3) Animal Use in Studies of Food and Fiber Production

The Animal Welfare act specifically exempts studies of animals “such as, but not limited to, livestock or poultry used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber.” Such studies are exempted from IACUC protocol submission and review.

Responsibilities of the Principal Investigator

The person who has the primary responsibility for the conduct of the research is the principal investigator (PI). All communications from the IACUC Office will be with the project's PI. All forms must be signed by the PI. Students are not permitted to be PIs, but are required to have an SRU faculty or staff member supervise the research. Student researchers should be listed as co-investigators.

The principal investigator must have an approved protocol from the IACUC before procurement of any animals.

Applicants are expected to be familiar with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act and to comply with any applicable regulations (e.g., obtain any necessary permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, or other state and Federal agencies).

It is the responsibility of the PI to complete and submit the application materials to the IACUC Office in order to maintain his/her project timeline. PI's are required to inform the IACUC Office of any changes to approved research and any adverse events or unanticipated problems. Approval is normally offered for a 3-year period.

PI's are responsible for the following:

Managing the development of the project in accordance with accepted scientific standards;
Ensuring the integrity and safeguarding of all collected data;
Ensuring that all personnel working with animals complete the necessary IACUC CITI training;
Assuring project adherence to approved research protocols and policies;
Notifying the IACUC of any changes made to the protocol;
Immediately notifying the IACUC if a protocol is completed or withdrawn; and,
Remaining aware of, and comply with the policies of the IACUC at SRU.

IACUC policies are subject to change. It is the responsibility of all researchers to be familiar with the current IACUC policies.

Application Process

The PI is required to submit a complete application packet to the IACUC Office for review. Incomplete application packets will be returned. Once a complete application packet is received, a file will be created and a protocol-specific number will be assigned. All communications with the IACUC Office regarding specific protocols must include the protocol number. Applications submitted for consideration are presented to the IACUC at the next monthly meeting. The Committee will review the application then respond to the investigator. Responses may include application approval or denial, comments, questions and suggestions for revision.

IACUC approval is granted for up to a three-year period; a project may be continued only after a new protocol is submitted for review and approval. If the use of animals is to continue beyond this date, submission of new protocol application form will need to be submitted. Investigators are expected to submit the new protocol application form before their approval period has expired.

IACUC protocol reviews can be categorized as follows:

Initial Reviews: This occurs when a new project is being planned and IACUC approval has not yet been granted for the work. The principal investigator completes and submits the protocol form for IACUC review. Once all issues are addressed, the IACUC approves the protocol for up to one year.
Reviews of Modification Requests for protocols already approved by the IACUC.

All IACUC protocol forms (for protocol approval or modification) are to be submitted to the IACUC Office, Old Main, Room 302.

Online Training

Federal regulations requires that all faculty, staff and students who work with live vertebrate animals complete a training course on the ethical care and use of animals in research, training and testing, as well as focusing on the care and use of particular species. The IACUC subscribes to the CITI Online Training Program (Working with the IACUC module) to comply with this regulation. Depending on the nature of the animal use, investigators may also be asked to complete additional specialized modules. The principal investigator is responsible for ensuring that all investigators working with animals complete the necessary IACUC training.

CITI provides a certificate to the researchers upon completion of the appropriate training course. A copy of the CITI certificate must be included with the protocol submitted to the IACUC Office for all participating researchers, including student researchers. The CITI Certification must be renewed every three years.

Instructions for CITI Online Training Program:

Create an account
Select Slippery Rock University from the participating institution drop-down menu
Provide user contact information
Select the course that most closely relates to the intended research
Complete all course modules
All quizzes must be passed before the completion certificate will be generated
Maintain a copy of the certificate and submit a copy to the IACUC Office with the protocol.

CITI Online Training Program - Click Here to Access the Training Program

USDA Tech Note - daily observation of all animals to assess their health and well-being

Forms

All IACUC protocol forms (for protocol approval, renewal or modification) are to be submitted to the IACUC Office, Old Main, Room 302.

IACUC Protocol Form - to be used when applying for approval of all research, teaching and testing uses of live vertebrate animals at SRU
IACUC Animal Tissue Protocol Form - to be used when applying for approval of animal tissue for all research, teaching and testing uses of any animal tissue at SRU
IACUC Therapy Dog Protocol Form - to be used when applying for approval of therapy dogs at SRU.
Protocol Modification Request Form - to be used when requesting any change/modification to your protocol
Laboratory Site Visit Checklist
Zoonoses for Animal Researchers and Students
IACUC's Emergency Response Procedures for Animal Researchers and Students
Off Campus Policy
AAALAC Reference Resources - 2016 Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of Wild Mammals in Research and Education

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

How to Apply to the IACUC

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Contact Information