{"id":55579,"date":"2025-01-24T01:53:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T06:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/?page_id=55579"},"modified":"2026-01-06T12:29:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T17:29:54","slug":"getting-started-in-animal-care-and-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/ethics-compliance\/animal-subjects\/getting-started-in-animal-care-and-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Started in Animal Care and Research"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beginning a research project and working with animals? Joining an active study? Everything you need to know to get started is here. Read on for a step-by-step process that will support an efficient start to your research and ensure humane, safe and fully-compliant animal care.<\/p>\n

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FAQs for Animal Researchers<\/h2>\n

Have questions about working with animals? So do other researchers, both new and established! Below you\u2019ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions from our BU research community.<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n

Quick Links<\/h2>\n
Getting Clearance<\/strong><\/div>\n
1. Complete and Submit the Health Questionnaire<\/a>
\n 2. Complete and Submit a Job Risk Assessment<\/a><\/div>\n
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Getting Trained<\/strong><\/div>\n
3. Complete Required SciSure (formerly SciShield Trainings)<\/a>
\n 4. Determine If Your Protocol Requires Additional Training<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Getting Access<\/strong><\/div>\n
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5. Get Added to an Active IACUC Protocol<\/a>
\n 6. Complete the Animal Science Center Security Access Application<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Getting Clearance<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Medical clearance is required from the Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP) before starting work with animals. All personnel working with animals must complete the Health Questionnaire <\/a><\/span>and Job Risk Assessment<\/a><\/span> initially and annually.<\/p>\n

Please note: ROHP medical clearance may take up to several weeks, so completing these forms first is the best way to expedite your access and begin your research. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

1. Complete and Submit the Health Questionnaire<\/h3>
Complete and submit the ROHP Health Questionnaire<\/a> first to ensure the most efficient start to your research. The questionnaire may be completed via your Occupational Health Connect Portal<\/a> (preferred) or, if unavailable there, through the ROHP web form<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

2. Complete and Submit a Job Risk Assessment<\/h3>
Complete and submit the ROHP Job Risk Assessment<\/a>. The assessment may be completed via your Occupational Health Connect Portal<\/a> (preferred) or, if unavailable there, through the ROHP web form<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

More information on medical clearance is available on the ROHP website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Getting Trained<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Both federal regulations and BU’s Personnel Training and Qualifications Policy<\/a> mandate training for all animal users. You must complete ALL of the below trainings before you will be able to join an active animal use protocol, apply for facility access and move forward with your research.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Complete Required SciSure Trainings<\/h3>
Complete all of the below trainings via SciSure<\/a>.<\/strong> The first two modules must be completed before you can be added to an IACUC protocol. All modules must be completed before you can receive facility access and begin animal work.<\/p>\n
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  1. IACUC Orientation Training<\/a> is a one-time training for all personnel working with animals, designed to inform the trainee of IACUC topics, including Federal Regulations; University Policies & Procedures; Animal Facility Policies & Procedures; Veterinary Care; Training Opportunities; and Occupational Health Information.<\/li>\n
  2. Working with the IACUC<\/a> is a training for all personnel working with animals, required prior to animal activities and every three years. It will provide trainees with further information on animal welfare regulations, PHS policies, and IACUC policies and standards.<\/li>\n
  3. Animal Science Center New Researcher Orientation (NRO)<\/a> is a one-time training for all individuals working on either the BU and\/or BMC campus for access to the animal facility, covering the animal science center, regulatory compliance, training, facility operations, safety and animal health.<\/li>\n
  4. Laboratory Safety Training<\/a> is a required annual training for all individuals working on either the BU and\/or BMC campus for access to the animal facility, covering all aspects of lab safety.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

    4. Determine If Your Protocol Requires Additional Training<\/h3>
    <\/p>\n
    Are you working with non-human primates and\/or non-human primate tissue?<\/h5>\n
      \n
    1. Complete the Working Safely with Non-Human Primates Training<\/a>, accessible via SciShield<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    2. Complete the Working Safely with Non-Human Primates in Biocontainment Training<\/a>, accessible via SciShield<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    3. Meet with Vet Services<\/a> (vetservices@bu.edu<\/a>) for an SOP review, facility walk-through, and further information on completing your training.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      Will you be using anesthetic gases in your research?<\/h5>\n

      Complete the Anesthetic Gases Training<\/a>, accessible via SciShield<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Will you be performing survival surgery on rodents?<\/h5>\n
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      1. Complete the four modules of Aseptic Surgery Training via SciShield.<\/li>\n
      2. Meet with a Vet Services trainer<\/a> (vetservices@bu.edu<\/a>) to review the specific surgical protocol.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Attendance at the Aseptic Technique Demonstration is required before being approved on an IACUC protocol.<\/strong> Attend an Aseptic Technique Demonstration hosted by ASC Veterinary Services. One-time attendance is mandatory for all researchers below the rank of PI. (PIs are exempted but invited to attend.) Sign-up for this demonstration via SciShield<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

        \n

        Getting Access<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

        5. Get Added to an Active IACUC Protocol<\/h3>
        All research involving animals must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)<\/a>. Your principal investigator (PI) must list your information in the protocol(s) you will be working on.
        \n

        You cannot begin animal work or gain facility access until you are on an active, approved protocol. <\/p><\/div><\/div>
        \nAre YOU the PI? Submit your protocol – and the names of all individuals who will work with animals on your study – via IACUC’s         Huron Research Suite<\/a>. Detailed directions can be found in the Huron Research Suite Reference Guides<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

        6. Complete the Animal Science Center Security Access Application<\/h3>

        ROHP clearance, training and addition to an IACUC protocol must ALL be completed before applying for security access.<\/strong> Before proceeding with this step, make sure you have completed all of the above requirements. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Complete and submit the Animal Science Center Security Access Application<\/a> online.<\/li>\n
        2. Once your application is reviewed and your information verified, you will be contacted to schedule a tour of the facilities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          The facility tour is required to gain building and facility access. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

          \n

          Getting Going<\/h2>\n

          Now that you’ve completed all of the above clearances, trainings and approvals, it’s time to familiarize yourself with Animal Care policies and procedures, and with all of the vital resources BU research has to offer.<\/p>\n

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          IACUC Policies<\/h2>\n

          Regulations, laws, guidelines and standards for working with animals at BU.<\/p>\n

          Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n

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          Animal Care & Use<\/h2>\n

          Guidelines on environmental enrichment, food and drink regulation, and much more.<\/p>\n

          Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n

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          Animal Housing<\/h2>\n

          Information on BU’s Animal Science Center facilities, plus procedures and policies on housing animals at the University.<\/p>\n

          Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n

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          Obtaining & Transporting Animals<\/h2>\n

          Ordering, importing, exporting and acclimatizing animals for research.<\/p>\n

          Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Beginning a research project and working with animals? Joining an active study? Everything you need to know to get started is here. Read on for a step-by-step process that will support an efficient start to your research and ensure humane, safe and fully-compliant animal care. Quick Links Getting Clearance 1. Complete and Submit the Health […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24171,"featured_media":43806,"parent":1116,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/chapter-navigation.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55579"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55579"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61024,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55579\/revisions\/61024"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}