Animal Welfare
Animal Use & Protocol Forms
IACUC Training Requirements
IACUC Full Committee Meetings
Pain Categories
Grant Funding
IACUC Inspections
Quality Assurance

Animal Welfare
What do I do if I have an animal welfare concern?
Notify any IACUC committee member, IACUC staff member, and/or fill out an incident report (http://www.iacuc.ufl.edu/mistreatment.htm) & send it to the IACUC at PO Box 100142. A list of our staff & committee members is available on our website: http://www.iacuc.ufl.edu/contact.htm

Animal Use & Protocol Forms
I am having trouble writing my protocol…who can help me?
The instructions on the protocol forms address many of the common questions, but additional help is also available. An ACS Veterinarian (veterinary care issues) or the IACUC Coordinators (administrative issues) would be happy to help.

I submitted my protocol weeks ago & have heard nothing…where is it?
The protocol review process chart may help you figure out where your protocol is. If not, contact the IACUC Office at 392-9917 or iacuc@grove.ufl.edu.

Who is eligible to be a PI on a protocol?
The investigator of each project must be a faculty member, defined as a person who is tenured, is in a tenure-track position or in a non-tenure clinical, scientist or research professor position. Exceptions will be determined by the Office of Research.

Do I get an approval letter for an addendum?
Depends on what the addendum is for. If the addendum is for a title change, then you will receive a new approval letter to reflect the new title. If the addendum is for anything other than a title change, you will not receive a new approval letter. You will just receive the final watermarked copy from the IACUC Office. The PI must print, sign, & return this copy to the IACUC Office.

What is the difference between a significant and minor change to a protocol?
Minor changes can include (but are not limited to): a change from jugular vein to tail vein for obtaining a blood sample, or change in anesthetic agent.
Significant changes can include, (but are not limited to): PI change, change in objective, switch from non-survival to survival surgery, change of species, withholding of analgesics, increase in degree of invasiveness of a procedure or discomfort to an animal. Ask the IACUC Office if you are unsure if your change is minor or significant.

My protocol has expired & I still have animals…what happens now?
Your animals will automatically be transferred to ACS’ Animal Holding Protocol (AHP) for up to 60 days. This will allow time for the PI to seek new protocol approval or transfer the animals to another IACUC approved protocol. At the PI request, ACS can also euthanize the animals in the manner described in the original protocol.

During the 60 days, ACS will care for the animals in the manner described in the original protocol. Breeding colonies will also be maintained to ensure viability. The PI will only be allowed to have contact with these animals if written authorization has been granted by the IACUC.

Animals remaining on the AHP longer than 60 days will be adopted or euthanized, as decided by the ACS Director.

IACUC Training Requirements
What training do I have to complete to be added to a protocol?
http://www.iacuc.ufl.edu/training.htm

I am just working with animal tissue, so what training requirements do I have to complete?
1. The 2006 version of the Health Risk Assessment Form for the EH&S Animal Contact Program. Note that you will only be working with animal tissue. Follow the instructions on the form which outline where to fax & mail the form. The IACUC will receive notification from EH&S when you have been approved. Start this process early as approval may take at least two or more weeks!
2. Level 1 Training-The VA Medical Research Service's web site has several courses for users of animals at UF. Register on-line and take the Working with UF IACUC course & exam that is appropriate for the species of animal you will be using (either Lab Animals or Agriculture & Wildlife). A minimum passing exam score is 85% and re-examination is required every three years.

I will be the PI on a protocol, but I will not be contacting animals…so what training requirements do I have to complete?
1. The 2006 version of the Health Risk Assessment Form for the EH&S Animal Contact Program. Note that you will not have any animal contact. Follow the instructions on the form which outline where to fax & mail the form. The IACUC will receive notification from EH&S when you have been approved. Start this process early as approval may take at least two or more weeks!
2. Level 1 Training-The VA Medical Research Service's web site has several courses for users of animals at UF. Register on-line and take the Working with UF IACUC course & exam that is appropriate for the species of animal you will be using (either Lab Animals or Agriculture & Wildlife). A minimum passing exam score is 85% and re-examination is required every three years.

Can I fax you my EH&S (Animal Contact Program) form?
No, the IACUC Office policy is not to accept faxed copies of EH&S forms. The form should be faxed & mailed to the Student Health Care Center (SHCC) (these instructions are on the form). Once a SHCC physician has cleared you, EH&S will notify the IACUC office. Start this process early as it may take at least two or more weeks.

What immunizations do I need to contact animals?
All persons contacting animals need at least a tetanus shot every 10 years. A tetanus shot can be received at SHCC or you can provide documentation of a shot within the last 10 years. Depending on which species you will be working with, other immunizations may be needed. Contact SHCC for more information.

Where do I go to get these immunizations?
You can receive immunizations at the SHCC. Call ahead for details.

How often do I need to complete the IACUC training?
The Working with the UF IACUC must be completed every 3 years.

IACUC Full Committee Meetings
What are the dates of the Full Committee Meeting? Where is the meeting?
IACUC Meetings are typically the first & third Tuesday of every month at 12:30pm in the Brain Institute LG-110A. Future 2006 IACUC meeting dates are: June 20, July 11, July18, August 1, August 15, September 5, September 19.

At what time will my protocol be discussed at the Full Committee meeting?
Protocols are discussed on a first come, first serve basis (if you are the first lab representative present, your protocol will be discussed first, etc).

Pain Categories
Can you explain the pain categories?
Category A - NO live animals are contacted - includes purely observational field studies or use of cadavers not euthanized specifically for this study. (a "wildlife" or "tissues only" form may be most appropriate for your project)
Category 1 - No/minimal pain/distress/discomfort is associated with the protocol and no pain relieving drugs or treatments are necessary.
Category 2 - Pain/distress/discomfort is associated with the protocol and appropriate pain relieving drugs or treatments are provided.
Category 3 - Pain/distress/discomfort is associated with the protocol but pain relieving drugs or treatment are withheld because their use would interfere with the study objectives. This must be explicitly scientifically justified and approved.

Grant Funding
Why do you need the animal sections of my grant?
Ensuring that the information provided in IACUC protocols is consistent with that contained in the grants for funding is an institutional responsibility and required by many funding agencies.

What do I do if I am no longer conducting work on animals, but still need to receive funding from my grant?
If you are no longer doing animal work then you do not need an IACUC approval. For release of funds you will need to email Dr. Tom Walsh, Director of Sponsored Research and Compliance, at twalsh@ufl.edu to get permission.

Can I have 2 funding sources and 2 titles on my protocol?
You must email Dr. Tom Walsh, Director of Sponsored Research and Compliance, at twalsh@ufl.edu to get permission.

IACUC Inspections
When are IACUC inspections?
IACUC inspections are every Spring & Fall. Spring inspections are April, May & June. Fall inspections are October, November, & December.

What areas are inspected?
All live research animal housing & procedure areas. Also, all research animal supply storage areas, feed rooms, cage washes, transportation vehicles, satellite facilities, etc.

What will the IACUC look for during inspections?
Some items the IACUC will look for on inspections can include (but are not limited to):
• Appropriate drug storage, control, and expiration date monitoring
• Expired drugs & supplies are separated, marked, and/or disposed properly
• Up to date calibration of anesthesia machines
• Drug/controlled substances log maintained
• Most recent full protocol (not just continuation) available in all laboratories
• IACUC approval letters displayed on doors of animal housing room outside of ACS
• No human food and/or drink in any animal room
• Separate surgery areas for prep, procedure, and recovery
• Aseptic technique used in all survival surgeries
• Staff informed of “whistle-blower” policy
• Staff knowledgeable of protocol
• General cleanliness of lab areas
• In lab SOPs and logs for cleaning frequently used equipment
• Logs for temperature/humidity monitoring, room cleaning, etc.
For more detailed lists of the what the IACUC will look for on inspections, see the Housing Checklist and the Lab Checklist. Please note that these are not comprehensive lists.

What is the difference between a significant and minor deficiency?
A significant deficiency is one that puts the animal’s health & welfare at risk.

Quality Assurance
What happens if I receive an overcrowding violation?
An uncorrected overcrowded cage is considered an “incident.” Three or more incidents become a violation. 1st Violation: PI & lab notified. 2nd Violation: Chair & Dean also notified. 3rd Violation: Institutional Official & funding agency also notified. All appropriate ACS charges also apply.

What will happen if I do not follow my protocol?
If a protocol is not followed, an IACUC investigation can follow. The PI may be asked to take corrective action or the PI may be suspended from using animals for a period of time. These incidents will be reported to the Institutional Official, and possibly the USDA, OLAW, and the PI’s funding source.

Can the IACUC suspend my animal use activity?
Yes (see above question).

I still have questions…who can I contact?
The IACUC Staff will be happy to help you. Please contact us at 392-9917 or iacuc@grove.ufl.edu.