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Guide for New Animal Researchers

All research, testing and teaching/instructional activities/proposals utilizing live vertebrate animals including field studies, conducted at USF or its affiliated institutions, by USF faculty and staff, or supported by university funds, must be submitted to the USF Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACUC) for review and approval prior to initiation of project and/or procuring animals.

1. Obtain an ARC sign on account
   
   • Application for Research Compliance (ARC) portal system that houses the eIACUC. It is the USF IACUC platform to submit IACUC proposals. You must first establish an ARC account in order to access the eIACUC animal use protocol system. Please register in the . For ARC help desk services contact: (813) 974-2880 or by email.
   • If you have an unaffiliated email address, that is neither from USF or our affiliated institutions (Moffitt, VA or New College) and you need access (such as non USF volunteer, visiting scholar, industrial partner, etc.)- You will be required to provide an email request from your Department Chair/Principal Investigator on your behalf to authenticate need to access ARC.
   • Videos and other resources to assist in ARC setup is available at .
     
     
2. Request for AALAS learning Library Login and Complete Online training courses
   • Send an email to IACUC Program and request American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Learning Library account login.
   • All researchers working with animals must complete USF tailored course entitled "Laws, Regulations, Policies, and the Guide 鈥� USF Orientation" through the .
   • A passing score of 85% correct is required to get credit for the course. If a passing score is not achieved trainees have an opportunity to retake the quiz component as many times as needed until they secure the required minimum score of 85%.
   • Additional courses may be necessary depending on the nature of research/teaching. Research personnel intending to contribute to the implementations of survival rodent aseptic surgical procedures must provide the IACUC with a certificate of completion for the AALAS Learning Library (ALL) course entitled "Aseptic Technique in Rodent Survival Surgical Procedures" and for wet lab training in such procedures, prior to IACUC protocol approval.
   • Need instructions on how to navigate, check out AALAS Navigation Instructions for USF IACUC Training (PDF).
     
     
3. Develop proposal to submit to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
   • Obtaining IACUC approval for proposed work should be initiated as early as possible.
   • The eIACUC on-line submission system allows new recruits with ARC accounts, to be granted editing access, so that a protocol can be prepared and submitted in advance of the new recruit's arrival at USF and or affiliated facilities. Access to the ARO system can be obtained by contacting the IACUC via email.
   • Investigators who are new to USF are encouraged to contact the IACUC support staff to become familiar with committee policies and procedures, such as the protocol review process, training expectations, or navigating the ARC eIACUC system.
   • Consulting with the university's Veterinarian(s) when developing a study may shorten the time between submitting a proposal and receiving final approval.
   • Applications to use animals, three year resubmissions, modifications, continuing reviews, closures etc. should be submitted via ARC. The eIACUC can be accessed in the .
   • The time from submission to final approval averages 5 weeks. Factors such as incomplete submissions, delay in providing a response to committee feedback, or unfulfilled training requirements will prolong the review process.
     
     
4. AALAS Basic Rodent Biomethodologies Online course
   • All personnel must complete the AALAS Learning Library training module entitled 鈥淏asic Rodent Biomethodologies other than the PI, if planning to use rodents. A score of 100% must be made in order to complete the training.
   • Complete the AALAS tutorial, print the certificate of completion, scan and save the document as a PDF, and upload it to item 3.7 of your "Researcher Profile" viewable via the ARC portal.
   • Note: Personnel proposing to use Immune Deficient Mice must upload to their ARC profile a certificate of completion for the AALAS LL course entitled 鈥淗andling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice鈥�, and a certificate of completion of CM in person training in such procedures, prior to protocol approval.
     
     
5. Complete your hands-on Required Biomethodologies Wet Lab Training for Rodents/Wildlife/Other Species 
   • All new personnel, other than the PI, requesting IACUC certification must also upload the certificate of completion of hands鈥恛n training in basic animal use methodology "Basic Rodent Biomethodologies Wet Lab" training can be arranged and documented by contacting Comparative Medicine Program. View the Comparative Medicine training schedule.
     
     
6. Occupational Health and Safety Requirements for individuals working with live, vertebrate animals
   
   • Fill out the appropriate Health Risk Assessment form  (PDF).
   • The Health Risk Assessment form must be completed in its entirety.  It is your responsibility to contact your Occupational Health service provider and complete any follow up requests.
     
     
7. Request for the appropriate Facility Orientation
   
   • Personnel requiring access to an animal facility must contact the facility manager at Comparative Medicine Program to schedule a facility-specific orientation, during which this form will be completed and signed. Retain this completed and signed form, save it as a PDF, and upload it to item 3.2 of your "Researcher Profile" viewable via the ARC portal.
     
     
8. Login into ARC and update your Researcher profile
   
   • Make sure you edit your ARC Researcher profile and check the IACUC box in section 1.2. Complete your researcher profile with personnel qualifications.
     
     
9. Rodent Aseptic Surgical Training
   All Principal Investigators proposing rodent aseptic surgical procedures and research personnel that intend to contribute to such procedures must provide the IACUC with:
   
   • A certificate of completion for the AALAS Learning Library course entitled "Aseptic Technique in Rodent Survival Surgical Procedures"
   • A certificate of completion of wet lab training in such procedures. Comparative Medicine provides wet lab training to researchers conducting surgical procedures to ensure that good surgical technique is practiced, including, asepsis, gentle tissue handling, minimal dissection of tissue, appropriate use of instruments, effective hemostasis, and correct use of suture materials and patterns.

Please address questions to IACUC Program.