Research Ethics & Compliance

Animal Subjects (IACUC)

The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) oversees all vertebrate animal research and instruction at UA in order to ensure that ethical regulatory and policy mandates governing the use of animals in research and instruction are met. The Committee is comprised of members, including representatives of the public, qualified to oversee the animal program, facilities, and procedures. The IACUC’s responsibility is to:

• Review and approve the animal welfare aspects or all research and instruction at UA
• Review UA’s program for the humane care and use of animals twice annually
• Conduct inspections twice annually on all UA animal facilities
• Prepare and submit reports of its evaluations to the Vice President for Research & Economic Development
• Make recommendations to the Vice President for Research & Economic Development regarding any aspect of UA’s animal program, facilities, or personnel training
• Suspend any activity involving animals that violates applicable regulations, policies, or procedures, or an approved protocol

Please contact rscompliance@ua.edu or iacuc@ua.edu, if you have any questions or comments.

Training

Principal Investigators are responsible for assuring that everyone under their supervision involved in the care and use of laboratory animals is properly trained and understands his or her obligation to comply with state and federal regulations, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, University policies and procedures set forth by the IACUC, and the specifics of the approved protocol.

The IACUC requires that all IACUC members, researchers, students, and anyone working with laboratory animals complete training prior to any involvement with animal subjects. The IACUC supports two online training programs that are designed to provide the user with the required information on the humane care and use of laboratory animals as mandated by federal regulations.

Registration

In order to become a registered animal care facility user, all users must complete the following information:

1. Animal Care Facility Registration Form
2. Health History Medical Evaluation Form
3. Complete Training Requirements

Completed copies of the Animal Care Facility Registration Form and Health History Medical Evaluation Form should be submitted to the Animal Care Facility Box 870334.

CITI Training: University of Alabama faculty, staff, and students can access the CITI Program’s IACUC Training through their existing myBama accounts. Access to CITI via myBama is ONLY for individuals with valid myBama accounts. UA users should log into the myBama CITI Login Portal using their myBama user name and password. All other non-UA investigators should go to www.citiprogram.org to access the training. This course will automatically provide UA with a record of the training you completed.

IACUC MEMBERS are required to take the following annual training: myBama CITI Login Portal

• Essentials for IACUC Members

FACULTY/STAFF are required to take the following annual training: myBama CITI Login Portal

• Working with the IACUC Course
• Complete species specific module for relevant animals.

STUDENTS are required to take the following training: myBama CITI Login Portal

• Working with the IACUC Course
• Species specific module based on species identified in protocol.

Protocol Submissions

Prior to initiating, modifying, or extending any research project that uses animals, Principal Investigators must submit an application to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for review and approval.

All IACUC protocols must be submitted electronically through the UA e-Protocol system: IACUC Online Protocol Submission

The IACUC meets once a month throughout the calendar year. In order to allow sufficient time for IACUC review, all protocols must be received by the monthly submission deadline. Late protocols will not be placed on the agenda and will be reviewed at the next meeting.

Accessing the e-Protocol System

New Projects

The e-Protocol system may be accessed via the myBama portal using your UA credentials. Once logged in, please select the Research tab and then the Research Systems tab. You may then select e-Protocol for IRB & IACUC  > Select IACUC > from the eProtocol tab (In left corner) select Investigator > Create Protocol >  proceed to complete the application ( Please make certain to complete all entries > upon completion > submit. 

Your project will be processed by our office. A specialist will communicate to you if additional information is needed.

Projects that require an – Amendment (Modification), Continuing Review (Renewals), Final Report (Closure Form), Serious Adverse Event Form

The e-Protocol system may be accessed via the myBama portal using your UA credentials. Once logged in, please select the Research tab and then the Research Systems tab. You may then select e-Protocol for IRB & IACUC > Select IACUC > from the eProtocol tab (In left corner) select Investigator > approved protocols > select protocol # of project for action to be performed (ex. 19-01-1939) > select desired action (continuing review, amendment,  final report, adverse event, etc. > proceed to complete the application (Please make certain to complete all entries > upon completion > submit.

Your project will be processed by our office. A specialist will notify you if additional information is needed.

IACUC Committee Login

• IACUC Material Up for Review – login portal

Resources

Below are quick links to a listing of all resources related to Animal Subjects:

• Forms & Templates
• Policies