Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Policy and Requirements
Qualifications and Training for Principal Investigators and Animal Users
The BUMC Animal Care and Use Program seeks to ensure the qualifications of all individuals who handle live animals which enable them to carry out their responsibilities for the humane care and use of laboratory animals in accordance with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care & Use of Animals. It is an institutional responsibility to make training available in animal anesthesia, surgery, experimental manipulations, and occupational health and safety. The ultimate responsibility for overseeing training rests with the IACUC, which must consider the qualifications of personnel involved in conducting research as part of its protocol review and approval process. This policy covers all personnel who work with live animals, including faculty, staff, students and visitors. Please be aware that the coverage of this policy is less broad than the coverage of the Occupational Health Program, because the OHP is not limited to individual working with live animals but also covers individuals who may have contact with animal tissues or animal carcasses. All individuals who handle animals, whether alive or following euthanasia, must be enrolled in an Occupational Health Program in order to protect the well-being of laboratory animal workers from zoonotic pathogens and animal allergens. See visit the Occupational Health page at the IACUC web site for more information.
Privileges to work with laboratory animals
Working with laboratory research animals is a privilege. The privilege of conducting research using animal subjects at BUMC depends on our compliance with federal and state regulations and policies governing the humane care and use of laboratory animals. One of those regulations requires assurance that individuals involved in the care and use of animals in research be qualified to perform their duties. The IACUC is responsible for ensuring all personnel using animals in research receive instruction and training in proper handling, caring for and performing the proper pre-procedural, procedural and post-procedural activities necessary to implement their research protocol. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to document the qualifications and competence of all those who are to be given the privilege of working with animals in his/her laboratory. It is the responsibility of the IACUC to review the documentation submitted by the Principal Investigator (P.I.) for completeness and appropriateness and to assist Principal Investigators who acknowledge that animal workers need additional training. The IACUC and the Laboratory Animal Science Center (LASC) provide training programs to assist Principal Investigators to ensure that they and Animal Users in their laboratories are appropriately trained and qualified. The IACUC will maintain qualification and training documentation on file.
Specific Policies
The Principal Investigator is required to inform the IACUC of the degree of qualification of all project personnel who will work with animals. The IACUC application form allows the P.I. to indicate the qualifications of each Animal User including:
- Prior training and experience. Specific information should be provided regarding the particular procedures an individual will perform and the species with which they will work, as well as the experience they have with these procedures and animal species.
- Training and knowledge of Animal Welfare regulations, PHS Policies and basic IACUC policies and standards. This requirement is met by completing "Investigator Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research Using Animals" (see below) and annually completing an on-line refresher course to be provided by the IACUC
- Training and knowledge of basic LASC requirements, animal handling requirements and biosecurity issues. This requirement is met by completing Introduction to the LASC; Introductory Animal Use Training Session and Animal Facility Orientation (see below)
- Medical surveillance evaluation completed. This requirement is met by requiring all individuals who have direct contact with animals (living or dead) or animal tissues submit a medical evaluation form available on the IACUC website to the Occupational Health Center, in some cases, an exam, a TB test, or vaccinations may be required for clearance. All OHP requirements must be met before starting work with animals, including, if required, a respirator clearance. (Please see the OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire (Mandatory) form.)
- Environmental Health & Safety Training. Attendance, documented by OEHS, at all required training applicable to the project: including laboratory safety, biosafety, select-agent, shipping, radiation safety within the twelve months prior to the individual being listed on an IACUC protocol
- Hands-on training. Training and demonstration of hands-on competence to handle animals and perform protocol procedures with particular species involved. This is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator; however, assistance is available through the LASC. P.I.'s are expected to acknowledge in their IACUC application when their personnel need additional training and to schedule it through the LASC before personnel begin work with animals.
- Training by the Principal Investigator. The Principal Investigator will provide his/her staff with training and supervision to ensure that all members of the project team understand the protocol and how to carry out their roles and responsibilities under the protocol safely and with humane care and use of animals.
IACUC tracking of qualifications and training of Animal Users
The IACUC Application will require:
- Certification that the P.I. and all personnel who work with animals on the project are qualified under the seven Qualification Elements above.
- Description of additional training that will be needed.
- Completion of training: a condition of IACUC approval.
The IACUC will expect P.I.s to err on the side of caution in certifying whether additional training is needed, as indicated above in 1 and 2. If so, the IACUC may not approve, or may conditionally approve the protocol until all training is completed and all individuals are qualified.
Additional training needed for qualifications
Additional training needed to qualify Animal Users for their activities, including hands-on instruction, will be available through the LASC and/or through the IACUC Protocol Assurance Liaison (PAL). Principal Investigators should schedule such training as needed. Species-specific training modules will be presented depending on need or at the discretion of the Attending Veterinarian. Class content and degree of detail may vary depending on the knowledge, previous experience and expertise of the target audience.
Please note: access to the LASC facilities requires being listed as personnel on an approved IACUC protocol as well as the completion of Qualification elements 2, 3, 4, and 5 above.