BU IACUC Submission Process

All research involving animals on the BU Charles River Campus, BU Medical Campus, and at the Boston Medical Center is subject to the requirements of the BU IACUC, regardless of funding source or other regulatory requirements. All animal care and use protocols:

• Must be approved by the IACUC before animals are procured.
• Must be approved by the IACUC prior to implementing any protocol activities, including performing any work involving live vertebrate animals.
• Every three years, undergo a full de novo review (as a new protocol).
• Any and all changes must be submitted to the IACUC as an amendment and receive approval, prior to implementation.

Protocol Guidance

• Only PIs may submit an IACUC protocol
• Only eligible PIs can be listed as PI of an IACUC protocol
• All individuals working with laboratory animals must complete IACUC training prior to being approved to work on an IACUC protocol.
• Individuals listed on both the research team in Huron IACUC and the approved IACUC protocol may edit the protocol.

Where to Submit

All IACUC submissions must be made via Huron Research Suite IACUCInstitutional Animal Care and Use Committee IACUC oversee.... We have compiled instructions for common actions on our Huron reference guide page. Please contact IACUC@bu.edu with any questions, to request training or assistance.

Huron Research Suite IACUC is available 24/7 except for standard change windows, which occur on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 6:30pm-12:30am ET and weekly on Sundays from 2-3am ET.

Collaborative Research Protocols

Animal work to be performed at BU requires submission of a BU IACUC protocol for review and approval.  Research protocols may be funded through BU, but none of the procedures involving live vertebrate animals are performed at BU.  In this case, submission of a BU IACUC protocol is not required.

• A memorandum of understanding (MOU) should be executed with the performance site where the procedures involving animals will be conducted, prior to initiation of research activities.
• Please send a copy of the approved protocol and approval letter from the performance site’s IACUC to IACUC@bu.edu  to begin the MOU process.
• Contact IACUC@bu.edu with any questions.

Activities Exempt from IACUC Review

Animal activities exempt from IACUC review include only the use of dead animals, animal tissues or fluids, invertebrate animals, or non-intrusive field research.

• Submission of a full protocol for IACUC review is not required.
• An exemption form and detailed description of the animal activity must be submitted to IACUC@bu.edu.
• Please note that other institutional requirements such as consultation with ROHP and IBC approval may apply.
• Please contact the IACUC office with any planned changes for guidance on whether or not the planned changes require IACUC review.