Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Policy and Requirements

Training in the Use and Care of Research Animals

The Animal Welfare Act (Section 2.32 Personnel Qualifications) requires training for all animal users to ensure that they are qualified to work with and handle animals. In order to comply with this act, the Charles River Campus (CRC) offers a variety of training methods and formats for individuals working with laboratory animals. Successful completion of this program is required for access to the animal facilities.

General Overview: The humane care and use of laboratory animals

On-Line Training Program

The on-line training program, the AALAS Learning Library website, provides an interactive review of the required training. This program is available to all individuals who work with or use laboratory animals at Boston University. Your completion of the module is documented as proof of compliance for this portion of the training program.

Initial Login and Enrollment:

Please go to the AALAS Learning Library website.
On the home page, click "Enroll Now".
Select "Join a Group".
Enter the access code: Boston University
Choose a username and password; please keep a record of this login for later use.
Enter the contact information requested. Please make sure that your email address is correct.


To Login Again Later:

Please go to the AALAS Learning Library website.
On the home page, login using the same login name and password you chose when you initially enrolled (see instructions above).
If you have forgotten your login information, please use the "forgot username or password?" link, which is adjacent to the login area. This utility emails you your username and password.

To Access a Course or Exam (after logging in):

Select Animal Care and Use Libraries (under the Libraries link).
Select the course you would like to take.
Links to enter the course and exam are located below the list of course lessons.

Please feel free to also take advantage of the informative training modules on the website.

Panel Discussion and Q&A

Attendance and participation at one of the semi-annual training sessions with an IACUC panel is required. Issues specific to the CRC animal program are considered in detail.

Review of species-specific videos

You are also required to review one or more videos for animal species specific to your area of interest. These can be viewed via the AALAS Learning Library website. Some videos may be available through the LACF; please contact directly for more information.

Customized and Special Training

If you require training in any aspect of laboratory animal use (e.g., handling and bio-techniques such as bleeding, injection, anesthesia, etc.), the CRC-Laboratory Animal Care Program can offer hands-on wet lab training by the Laboratory Animal Care Facility (LACF) technical staff and/or the veterinarian.

Immediate Supervisor/Lab Coordinator

It is anticipated that your laboratory or course director will provide both general and specific hands-on training for all procedures involving living animals. Many CRC faculty and staff have skills in experimental animal procedures and are willing to provide guidance to others. The IACUC Administrator has a collection of books, tapes, and training materials available for your review along with suggested URL's for topical web sites that may provide you with the needed information.

Occupational Health

All personnel who have contact with animals, (live or dead) must be covered by the Occupational Health Program in order to ensure personnel safety from zoonotic infections and allergies. All personnel must complete and send the below forms to OEM.

Contact Information

For more specific information on any of the aspects of training please contact:

Beverly Keniston
Director, Laboratory Animal Care Facility
bak@bu.edu

Gina Prochilo-Cawston
IACUC Administrator
Gpc@bu.edu

Also see

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