In order to ensure the humane care and use of live, vertebrate animals, UNCW has its own federally mandated Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Faculty members from a variety of scientific and non-scientific disciplines and at least one community representative serve on this university committee to review and approve research projects involving live, vertebrate animals. The Office of Research Services (ORS) is the administrative office that coordinates the activities of the IACUC. According to UNCW IACUC policy, all research projects conducted by UNCW researchers (including student research) involving live, vertebrate animals must be approved by the IACUC. ORS will not accept funding for this type of research from an external agency without documentation of IACUC approval.
IACUC Contact Information:
Institutional Official: Robert D. Roer, roer@uncw.edu, 910-962-4117
IACUC Chair: Dr. Tom Lankford, lankfordt@uncw.edu, 910-962- 2381
IACUC Coordinator: Leanne Prete, pretel@uncw.edu, 910-962- 7774
IACUC Meeting Schedule and Submission Deadlines
The IACUC typically meets twice each semester to review protocols subject to full committee review. Following is the 2009 - 2010 meeting schedule and submission deadlines.
| SUBMIT PROTOCOL BY: | ||
| INITIAL SUBMISSION DUE | REVISIONS DUE | IACUC MEETING DATE |
Monday August 17, 2009 |
Tuesday August 25, 2009 |
Wednesday September 2, 2009 |
Monday November 23, 2009 |
Tuesday
December 1, 2009 |
Wednesday December 9, 2009 |
Monday February 8, 2010 |
Tuesday February 16, 2010 |
Wednesday February 24, 2010 |
Monday April 19, 2010 |
Tuesday
April 27, 2010 |
Wednesday
May 5, 2010 |
Please note: According to UNCW IACUC policy, when an IACUC protocol is initially submitted the regulatory compliance officer will forward it by email to the attending veterinarian (AV) for a consultation. The AV will send the principal investigator a consultation form within a few days. The researcher should take the AV's comments under consideration and revise the protocol appropriately. If the researcher makes revisions to the protocol, the revised protocol must be submitted by the date specified below to assure review during the desired meeting date. Researchers should plan accordingly to avoid delays. The IACUC hopes this new procedure will allow for smoother reviews during scheduled meetings.
IACUC Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of animals fall under IACUC regulation?
ALL live, vertebrate animals fall under IACUC regulations. This is stated in UNCW's Assurance of Compliance (FAQ #6 below) and in UNCW's IACUC policy.
2. Is IACUC approval required for vertebrate animals used in teaching, or just research?
UNCW IACUC policy requires IACUC approval for vertebrate animals used in research, research training, experimentation, teaching, biological testing or other purposes.
3. Why does my protocol expire after three years even though my grant is continuing?
PHS Policy and UNCW IACUC policy require a complete review of ongoing activities at least once every three years. Like many other universities, UNCW requires this complete review to be conducted through the submission of a new protocol form. Therefore, all protocol forms expire after three years regardless of the grant cycle, so that a complete review of animal activities may be conducted.
4. What should I do if I change a procedure, change personnel, or change the species on an approved protocol?
If you make any change to an approved protocol, please submit something in writing explaining the change to the regulatory compliance officer (e-mail requests are acceptable, pretel@uncw.edu). According to UNCW IACUC policy, the regulatory compliance officer and IACUC Chair will determine if the change is minor, moderate or major. Minor or moderate changes such as the addition or deletion of a student assistant, a minor species change (from one rodent species to another, like mice to rats), or a small increase in the number of animals (10% - 25% of already approved number) can be approved very quickly by the IACUC Chair. Major changes to the protocol such as a major change in the approved activities, a major change in species (such as changing from rats to dogs) or a significant increase in the number of animals used (more than 25% of approved number) require a revision to the protocol itself and either designated or full review, depending on the original review received and the nature of the changes requested.
5. What are the IACUC training requirements for researchers?
The online training course, "Working with the IACUC", provided by the University of Miami's Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) is required for all members of the research team. Other forms of training may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the IACUC chair or regulatory compliance officer.
IACUC committee members are required to complete a course specifically for IACUC members in addition to the basic "Working with the IACUC" course.
Instructions on how to register for online training and link to CITI website
6. What is UNCW's OLAW Assurance number?
A3871-01, EXPIRES 6/30/10
An Assurance is an agreement with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare to operate an animal care program in accordance with certain policies and principles. UNCW's Assurance of Compliance with Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states that UNCW will follow the USDA Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals for ALL live, vertebrate animals. The Assurance also sets out the organization of the UNCW IACUC and lists certain procedurs and policies of the IACUC.
7. Where do I get the forms? Where do I send completed forms?
There are now two versions of the main application form - a long form and a short form. If your activities include surgery, drug administration, dietary manipulation, pain and/or distress or prolonged restraint, you should use the long form. If your activities include none of those things or just one you should use the short form and attach an appendix if needed. Please submit an electronic copy of the completed form to the regulatory compliance officer (pretel@uncw.edu) by the initial submission deadline posted on the IACUC homepage. All protocols submitted will be forwarded to the attending veterinarian (AV) for consultation. The AV will complete a consultation form and forward it to the principal investigator (PI) within a few days. The PI should take the comments under consideration and revise the protocol if appropriate. Please go to the IACUC home page for specific submission deadlines. Submit the fully revised, signed hard copy to: Leanne Prete, Regulatory Compliance Officer, Office of Research Services and Sponsored Programs, Hoggard Hall, Room 180 or Campus Mail box 5973 Click here for UNCW's full mailing address and contact information.
IACUC Protocol Form - "Long" Form Use if activities include drug administration, surgery, dietary manipulation, pain and/or distress, or prolonged restraint.
IACUC Protocol Form - "Short" Form Use if activities DO NOT include drug administration, surgery, dietary manipulation, pain and/or distress, or prolonged restraint. You may still attach an appendix to this form for those activities if needed (see below).
APPENDICES:
Additional Personnel Appendix
Diet Manipulation Appendix
Drug Administration Appendix
Pain and Distress Appendix
Surgery Appendix
Notification of Animal Display Form
8. How long will it take the IACUC to review my protocol?
This depends on the type of IACUC review required, when the protocol is submitted, the complexity of the protocol and the completeness of the protocol. If a protocol is submitted according to the above deadlines, it is placed on the agenda for the corresponding meeting. If the IACUC determines at the meeting that the protocol is complete and no additional information is needed, the protocol is approved effective the date of the meeting. However, if the IACUC may request additional information prior to protocol approval, the approval process may take longer depending on when the additional information is submitted and when the IACUC can determine if the additional information satisfies the terms for approval.
If a protocol is submitted at a time that does not coincide with a meeting deadline, the protocol is distributed to all IACUC members to see if the IACUC will authorize designated review of the protocol. Designated review of a protocol is still a thorough review by a designated reviewer or review team with experts consulted as necessary. It can be conducted when a protocol meets certain criteria according to UNCW IACUC policy. The time period for designated review again depends upon the complexity and completeness of the protocol.
