Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The University of New Haven’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the use of animal participants in research. IACUC is composed of UNH faculty, administrators, representatives from the community, and experts regarding scientific research and veterinary medicine. IACUC’s purpose is to enable UNH faculty, staff, and students to conduct ethical vertebrate animal research while ensuring that the rights and welfare of participants are upheld in accordance with the United States Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
What projects must undergo review?
All research projects, including student projects, using vertebrate animal participants must be approved by IACUC prior to starting research.
Types of Projects:
There are two types of IACUC reviews: Exempt and Protocols
Proposals/applications usually take 2 weeks to review.
Minor Changes/Continuing Review/End of Project
If a project is approved, approval is valid for duration of study up to three calendar years. If during that period, a project must undergo modifications, then PI’s must submit an “Amendment Form” which can be found under the IACUC Forms section. The IACUC will decide if these modifications require a new application or an amendment and will proceed accordingly.
If the project must extend beyond its stated duration, then the PI must contact the IACUC chair, Dr. Marisia Fikiet at IACUC@newhaven.edu.
Once the project has ended, the PI must inform IACUC that the project has been terminated. If more data collection is required after the termination, a new application must be submitted.
Project reviews
All projects have an annual review, facilities have semiannual reviews
Some responses may vary based on the details of the study.
Besides the application, what else do I need to submit?
Referred to as supporting documents, any CITI, consent, recruitment materials and data collections instruments (as applicable) must be submitted at the same time as the application. Also submit any applications and approvals already submitted to other institutional review boards for this study.
What is CITI training?
CITI is a required training for those completing research on vertebrate animal subjects. Find a link to their animal care and use courses here.
Exemption or Full protocol?
Exemption letters are granted to research that does not involve the husbandry, housing, or euthanasia of live vertebrate animals specifically for that project.