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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the role of the IACUC?
- What regulations and guidelines are there to dictate the committee's policies?
- Who can serve as the Principal Investigator on the protocol?
- What kind of projects must be submitted for IACUC review?
- When does the IACUC meet?
- Where can I obtain the Animal Protocol Form?
- How do I submit a protocol or modification to the IACUC?
- What is an Initial Review?
- When should a protocol modification be submitted to the IACUC and how do I request changes (including personnel additions)?
- Does my modification need to be reviewed by the full IACUC?
- I am an Investigator who is leaving Dartmouth - what do I need to do to transfer my protocols to someone else?
- When will I hear from the Committee on the status on my protocol submission?
- Does the approval of a protocol modification extend the original approval date?
- When does my protocol expire?
- Can I have an extension on my three year renewal?
- Will I be notified when it is time for me to renew my protocol?
- What is an annual renewal?
- What is required before I can work with animals?
- What kind of ID Card do I need to gain access to the animal facilities?
- Why is my lab being inspected?
- What is Post Approval Monitoring?
- What does the IACUC expect of my Laboratory during Semi-annual Inspections?
- What does the IACUC expect of my Laboratory during Post-Approval Monitoring Inspections?
- Who are the members of the IACUC committee?
What is the role of the IACUC?
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) ensures that all research and teaching protocols using live vertebrate animals are designed and carried out in a humane manner that complies with all applicable laws, polices, and guidelines. The IACUC is responsible for reviewing all protocols involving live vertebrate animals, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, inspecting animal facilities and laboratories and overseeing training and educational programs.
What regulations and guidelines are there to dictate the committee's policies?
All research activities must conform to the statutes of the Animal Welfare Act and the guidelines of the Public Health Service as issued in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Eighth Edition). http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/Guide-for-the-care-and-use-of-laboratory-animals.pdf
Who can serve as the Principal Investigator on the protocol?
The policy for who may serve as a Principal Investigator can be found here.
What kind of projects must be submitted for IACUC review?
An approved IACUC protocol is necessary for all uses of vertebrate animals in research, testing and teaching conducted at Dartmouth College, including fieldwork and sample collection on live vertebrate animals. Protocols need to be reviewed annually and need to be completely resubmitted and re-approved every three years.
A schedule of IACUC Committee Meetings can be found in the deadlines and due dates section here.
Where can I obtain the Animal Protocol Form?
The protocol can be obtained here.
How do I submit a protocol or modification to the IACUC?
The protocol /modification must be submitted to the IACUC office electronically as a MS Word document. Submission deadlines and IACUC committee review dates can be found here.
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An initial review is conducted on all protocols submitted to the IACUC in an attempt to identify areas that are unclear or lacking. The protocol and comments are then returned to the investigator to allow time for changes to be made to the protocol prior to full committee review. Failure to address these comments may result in a vote of Not Approved without the protocol being fully discussed at the IACUC meeting.
When should a protocol modification be submitted to the IACUC and how do I request changes (including personnel additions)?
Any changes to the protocol including changes to procedures, drugs, personnel, and / or animal numbers must be submitted to the IACUC for review and approval prior to the change being implemented. To make changes, please request the most recent, approved version of your protocol from the IACUC office.
Does my modification need to be reviewed by the full IACUC?
All modifications that are considered significant will need to be submitted for full IACUC review. Modifications that do not require full committee review include: adding or removing personnel to the protocol, adding animals if the number requested is less than 10% of the approved number, procedural changes that do not cause pain or distress to the animal, and a hazard that does NOT add or increase the significance of the containment required.
I am an Investigator who is leaving Dartmouth - what do I need to do to transfer my protocols to someone else?
The protocol should be modified to reflect that there is a new PI and submitted to the IACUC office. Make sure that all contact information on the protocol is up to date. The IACUC office will need to have email confirmation from both the old and new PI stating their agreement to the change. Transferring a protocol to a new PI requires full committee review.
When will I hear from the Committee on the status on my protocol submission?
Investigators submitting protocols to the committee will generally be contacted within five working days of the meeting detailing the Committee's response.
Does the approval of a protocol modification extend the original approval date?
No. The approval expiration date will remain the same as when the protocol was originally approved.
The protocol expires on its third anniversary but must be renewed annually. Letters are sent to investigators beginning 90 days before the expiration date. IMPORTANT: If you do not submit your protocol until the month that it expires, you risk interruption of your research. The IACUC will neither expedite review of your protocol nor will it be processed at an accelerated rate.
Can I have an extension on my three year renewal?
No. Federal laws mandate that the IACUC review protocols completely every three years. The IACUC does not have authority to extend approval beyond three years. Continuation of animal activities in the absence of valid approval is a reportable violation of PHS Policy.
Will I be notified when it is time for me to renew my protocol?
Yes. Three months prior to the protocol expiration the PI will be contact by the IACUC office.
Federal Regulations and Dartmouth College policy require that a protocol for animal use be reviewed annually. Three months before the first and second anniversary date of protocol approval the ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT is sent to the PI to be completed for this purpose. If no response is received, a reminder is sent one month later. A final notice of PENDING EXPIRATION is sent one month later. If no action has been taken, the protocol becomes expired on the anniversary date and an EMAIL OF PROTOCOL TERMINATION is sent.
What is required before I can work with animals?
Before you can work with animals you will need to complete all required training and be approved on the IACUC protocol that the animals are on. Contact the IACUC office (Institutional.Animal.Care.Use.Committee@dartmouth.edu) for specific training requirements, as they vary according to species used and protocol procedures. Species specific training or documentation of specific species training is required for anyone working with animals as required by The Guide. Documented previous training may be used in lieu of Dartmouth training, but requires the user to contact the IACUC for permission to do so. Training by investigators and other lab staff members does not fulfill the training requirement and clinical training (e.g. MD, DVM degree based courses) does not satisfy the requirements of surgical training for rodents or other species.
What kind of ID Card do I need to gain access to the animal facilities?
Access to the Lebanon Campus facility requires a Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center ID card. Access to any other animal facilities requires a Dartmouth College ID card. Additional information on facility access can be found here.
Why is my lab being inspected?
Federal regulations governing the use of animals in research require that the IACUC review and inspect the care and treatment of animals in all animal study areas at least once every six months. These inspections must be performed by at least two IACUC members.
What is Post Approval Monitoring?
The goal of the post approval monitoring process at Dartmouth College is to review active protocols to ensure research is being conducted in accordance with what is written and approved. The protocols are selected randomly or as a result of a request by the IACUC or CCMR staff. The Post Approval team visits the laboratory, the protocol is reviewed and selected procedures may be observed.
What does the IACUC expect of my Laboratory during Semi-annual Inspections?
Please refer to the "Semi-Annual and Post Approval Inspections" for a complete list of expectations and requirements.
What does the IACUC expect of my Laboratory during Post-Approval Monitoring Inspections?
Please refer to the "Semi-Annual and Post Approval Inspections" for a complete list of expectations and requirements.
Who are the members of the IACUC committee?
The committee members are appointed by the Institutional Official (IO). The IACUC is composed of Dartmouth College faculty, Veterinarians, and Community members. The committee consists of both scientists and non-scientists.