The IACUC should be notified of any requested changes to your Animal Use Protocol prior to their implementation. Protocol changes that require an amendment request to be submitted to the IACUC include, yet are not limited to, changes involving increasing the number of animals used, adding additional species, including additional experimental procedures or pilot studies, adding anesthetics/analgesics, changing housing/use locations, altering the early removal criteria, and changing the Principal Investigator. The change of adding or removing Co-Investigators or other personnel does not require an amendment request and can be implemented by the Principal Investigator executing the “Change Study Team” activity from the protocol workspace in e-Protocol.

For what kinds of species do I need to have an approved IACUC Animal Use Protocol?

All testing, instructional and research proposals utilizing living vertebrate animals must be submitted for evaluation by the IACUC. Animal Use Protocol (AUP) submissions must also be submitted when utilizing dead vertebrate animals or animal parts if the animal was both sacrificed and procured solely and specifically for a research, teaching, or testing purpose.

How can I determine the status of my protocol/amendment submission?

The status of your protocol or amendment submission can be viewed within the online e-Protocol application by going to the submission’s workspace and looking at the current state. A description of each state is provided below:

Pre Submission: The submission is still in the PI’s queue and must be submitted to the ULAR Clinical Veterinarians (activity: “Forward Protocol/Amendment for Veterinarian Review”) to be moved along in the review process. This is the first state that a submission is in when it is created.

Pre Submission: Veterinarian Review: The submission has been received by the ULAR Clinical Veterinarians and is in the process of being reviewed.

Pre Submission: Changes Requested By Veterinarian: The ULAR Veterinarians have completed the review of the submission item and have forwarded the submission back to the PI for requested changes to the submission. The PI/Study Team must address the Veterinarian requested changes and submit the item back to the Veterinarians (activity: “Submit Changes”).

Pre Submission: Departmental Endorsement: The ULAR Veterinarian endorsement has been issued and the protocol is awaiting endorsement by the PI’s departmental chair (only protocols go into this state).

IACUC Staff: Submission: The review item has received departmental endorsement (protocols) or veterinarian endorsement (amendments) and has been received by the IACUC Office. Items in this state are prepared for either the next IACUC convened meeting or Designated Member Review Cycle.

IACUC: Designated Member Review: The review item is being reviewed by the IACUC; at the time the review is finalized, the PI will be notified if the review item has been approved or if addition information is required.

IACUC: Full Committee Review: The review item is being reviewed by the IACUC at a convened meeting; at the time the review is finalized, the PI will be notified if the review item has been approved or if addition information is required.

You may also contact the IACUC Office at (614) 292-4494, (614) 292-0409, or IACUCinfo@osu.edu to inquire the status of any submission to the IACUC.

How do I start an IACUC Animal Use Protocol Submission?

IACUC protocols can be initiated in e-Protocol (https://eprotocol.osu.edu/) from the e-IACUC workspace. Protocols are started by clicking on the “Create IACUC Protocol” button under “My e-IACUC Tools” on the upper left side of the screen.

Contact the IACUC Office at (614) 292-4494, (614) 292-0409, or IACUCinfo@osu.edu for assistance in the preparation of an AUP submission.

How do I terminate a protocol?

In order to terminate a protocol, the PI must go to the protocol workspace in e-Protocol (https://eprotocol.osu.edu/) and click on the “Terminate Protocol” activity (under “My Activities” on the left side of the screen). This will open a pop-up window in which the PI must indicate a reason for termination. Once the “OK” button at the bottom right hand side of the pop-up window is pressed, the protocol will be terminated.

How long will it take to get my protocol or amendment approved?

Most protocols / amendments are reviewed within 7-15 days once the IACUC Office has verified that the submission is complete. However, this timeline depends greatly on the speed of IACUC member review and the investigator’s response to IACUC clarifications.

Some protocols and amendments will require additional review time as they must be reviewed at the monthly convened IACUC meeting. These include:

studies involving unrelieved pain or distress (and some types of restraint),
protocols using death as an endpoint,
studies with multiple major survival surgeries,
inclusions of major survival surgery on a USDA-covered species (all mammals excluding mice of the genus Mus and rats of the genus Rattus bred exclusively for research),
inclusion of non-human primates (unless the study is strictly observational)
protocols on which any IACUC member(s) requests convened committee review.

The IACUC meets on the 3rd or 4th Friday of each month. A calendar of meeting dates is available here. Investigators should expect to receive correspondence regarding the outcome of a review within 2 days of the review completion.

For additional information and detail regarding the IACUC review procedures and expected review timelines, click here.

If I am done with all animal use on an Animal Use Protocol should I terminate the protocol?

If you are confident that all animal use is completed and will have no further need for animal use on a protocol, then you may terminate the protocol. However, even if you are done using animals it is not necessary to terminate the protocol, as future circumstances may cause you to wish to continue animal use (e.g. grant funding).

What happens if my current Animal Use Protocol expires before its renewal is approved by the IACUC?

If you believe that your current Animal Use Protocol will expire prior to the approval of your renewal submission, you should contact the IACUC Office at (614) 292-4494 or (614) 292-0409 immediately.

At the time the original Animal Use Protocol expires, all work involving the use of live animals must cease and any animals being kept on the protocol must be transferred to another appropriate and approved IACUC Animal Use Protocol or the “IACUC/ULAR Animal Holding Protocol.”

Work utilizing animals may not resume until the renewal protocol is approved by the IACUC and the animals involved are transferred to an approved IACUC protocol which covers the entirety of the work to be performed.

Where can I get assistance with writing an Animal Use Protocol?

For assistance in IACUC protocol preparation, please contact Angela Phillips (phillips.270@osu.edu; 614-292-3633).
For general assistance (e.g. policies, procedures, requirements) or technical assistance contact the IACUC Office at (614) 292-4494, (614) 292-0409, or IACUCinfo@osu.edu.

What is an OASIS form?

Regulations for animal research require an occupational health and safety program to ensure safety of personnel. One of the assessment tools that this university uses is the OSU Animal Safety Information Sheet (OASIS) form. An OASIS form encompassed a wide spectrum of chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. The purpose of the OASIS is to define engineering controls, personal protective equipment requirements, exposure risks to personnel, duration of risk, and risk management procedures. If needed, an OASIS form will be provided by the IACUC office at the time of protocol or amendment review. Timely notification of animal care personnel (e.g., University Laboratory Animal Resources) when animals are exposed to agents is a critical component of our occupational health and safety (OHS) program. The form should also be posted if agents are being used in an investigators lab. View the OASIS Template form.

How do I notify ULAR if I will be using hazardous agents?

Requirements for the usage of hazardous agents – (Examples of agents: Influenza virus, Salmonella spp., Streptozotocin, MPTP, Leishmania spp.)

You are required to notify ULAR at least three business days in advance of animal exposure to agents listed on the AHSP form. The following steps can be taken to notify ULAR of hazardous agents use:
- Log into https://eprotocol.osu.edu
- Go to the protocol’s homepage (not amendment or annual review)
- Click the red link on the left side that says “Notify ULAR of Hazardous Agent Use”
- A new window will pop up. Please enter a brief message indicating the agent to be used and the date of exposure. Click the OK button when finished.
Protocols utilizing hazardous agents that may be shed / excreted or result in animal infection will require an AHSP to be posted at the entrance to the animal housing area.
Signage must be posted in the procedure room during inoculation / exposure of animals to the hazardous agents listed on the AHSP form.
AHSP form is prepared by staff in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and is provided to the lab at the time an IACUC protocol or amendment is submitted.

What do I need to do to house animals in my laboratory?

Housing of animals outside of an approved ULAR vivarium or Ohio State University farm facility for greater than 12 hours for USDA-covered species and 24 hours for all other vertebrate animals requires prior approval by the IACUC. The investigator must provide scientific justification for housing outside a ULAR vivarium. Housing exceptions must be requested in writing either as part of an initial protocol submission or as an amendment to a pre-existing approved protocol. Each housing exception is examined on an individual basis by the IACUC and approval is contingent upon review of the written request and inspection of the proposed area for housing. If the housing facility/lab area has never been used for housing animals, then the IACUC will need to perform an initial inspection of the area before the request can be officially approved. See IACUC Guidelines for Housing of Animals in Laboratory Areas and Housing and Veterinary Care of Aquatic Species for further information on requirements.

What is an SOP and why do I need one?

SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedures. An SOP defines the procedures that a lab will use for the husbandry care of the animals housed there. Refer to the IACUC Guideline for Housing of Animals in Laboratory Areas and Housing and Veterinary Care of Aquatic Species for details about the information and activities that need to be included in the SOP. If a satellite facility houses animals from multiple protocols and/or PIs, one SOP will be sufficient for that laboratory area so long as the information is adequate and applicable for all protocols.

Why is my lab always being inspected

Federal regulations governing the use of animals in research require that the IACUC review and inspect the care and treatment of animals in all animal study areas at least once every six months. These visits must be performed by at least two IACUC members. Study areas include any place where animals are housed for greater than 24 hours (or greater than 12 hours for USDA species) and where surgical manipulations are conducted. Follow-up visits may be needed if there are findings during these visits.

As part of their oversight responsibilities, the IACUC has initiated a policy for inspections of all satellite facilities, areas using animals outside of an approved ULAR vivarium. These visits are done periodically and are conducted by an ORRP staff member and/or a ULAR Laboratory Animal Health Technician (LAHT). More frequent visits are required when animals are housed in satellite facilities. Contact the IACUC office (IACUCinfo@osu.edu) if you have further questions about the process.

In addition, inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may visit any lab where USDA species are used. These are unannounced inspections. Additional outside regulatory or accrediting agencies may visit labs.

How do I add personnel to an Animal Use Protocol?

Within e-Protocol, only the listed PI of a study has access to the activity that adds personnel to the protocol. The following instructions can be used to add personnel:

In order to add individuals to the protocol, click on “Change Study Team” under “My Activities.” This will open a pop-up window listing all the personnel listed on the protocol, including the ability to add or delete individuals. Once all individuals have been added, make sure the “OK” button at the bottom of the pop-up window is pressed, or the changes will not take effect.

Any individual that cannot be found via the search function must register before they can be added; in order to do this, they must log into the main e-Protocol web site and follow the registration directions: https://eprotocol.osu.edu/. Once this has been done, they should be able to be located via the search in the “Change Study Team” pop-up window.

I am having difficulty logging into the Animal Training /Occupational Health and Safety Training / Occupational Health Registry website(s). An error message appears and says my account does not exist. What should I do?

If the error message reads “user account does not exist,” you do not yet have access to the application and an account will need to be set-up for you. Contact ORIS Help Desk with the following information: first, last name, and OSU username (name.number) and ask for an account to be set up for you.

If additional problems or concerns occur while logging into the Animal Training / Occupational Health and Safety Training / Occupational Health Registry website(s), contact the ORIS Help Desk or the IACUC Office at 614-292-4494 for further assistance.

I just completed my Conflict of Interest disclosure recently. Why do I need to submit a new one?

An individual must have a completed COI disclosure on file prior to their involvement with the care and use of animals and their approval to work on an Animal Use Protocol. For additional information regarding the Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure process visit the Office of Research Compliance.

What are the requirements to be listed on an Animal Use Protocol?

View personnel requirements.

Where can I check to see if individuals have completed the requirements to be listed on an Animal Use Protocol?

The status of personnel requirements can be viewed within the e-Protocol online application. From the protocol workspace, click on “View Protocol” and navigate to the “Study Team Members” page. This page lists all personnel on the protocol and also indicates the status of all requirements for each study team member.

In addition to the available web tools above, you may contact the IACUC Office at 614-292-4494, 614-292-0409, or IACUCinfo@osu.edu to inquire about specific IACUC personnel requirements.

Who should be listed on my Animal Use Protocol?

The IACUC requires that an Animal Use Protocol (AUP) lists the Principal Investigator responsible for the AUP and all individuals that are involved with the care and use of animals or use of animal tissues under the AUP. All personnel under the AUP must have completed the IACUC personnel requirements prior to their involvement with the care and use of animals and their approval to work on an AUP.

Why did I receive a notice saying to complete my Occupational Health and Safety Training when I have already completed it?

There are two IACUC requirements that deal with Occupational Health and Safety. These two requirements have similar wording to describe them and are sometimes confused. Both requirements are unique and both need to be completed by investigators and their staff prior to involvement with the care and use of animals and approval to work on an Animal Use Protocol.

The Occupational Health Registry Questionnaire. The United States Department of Agriculture and Public Health Service regulations require The Ohio State University to have an effective occupational health and safety program for all individuals who handle animals or animal tissue. Participation in the University’s Occupational Health Program is thus mandatory for all faculty, staff, students and volunteers who work in University laboratory animal facilities or conduct research with animals or animal tissues. The purpose and goal of the Occupational Health Program is to identify, evaluate, manage, and reduce potential health risks associated with the care and use of animals at the institution. Individuals with animal or animal tissue exposure enroll in the Program by completing an initial occupational health registry questionnaire.

A notice from the IACUC Office that refers to this requirement will have the keywords “assessment” or “registry” within the notice. The following link will lead you to the registry website: http://go.osu.edu/riskassessment.

Occupational Health and Safety Training. This course is designed for all persons at The Ohio State University who work with animals. The objective of this program is to help you recognize hazardous chemicals and hazardous biological agents/materials and prevent harmful exposures to them.

A notice from the IACUC Office that refers to this requirement will have the keywords “training course” within the notice. The following link will lead you to the Occupational Health and Safety training website: https://rf.osu.edu/secure/education.

(Please note: Once access is gained to the site, a tab labeled “Occupational Health and Safety” will appear under the “Animal Subjects Training” tab. Click on this tab to begin the Occupational Health and Safety Training course).

What is the “IACUC / ULAR Animal Holding Protocol?”

The “IACUC/ULAR Animal Holding Protocol” was established to temporarily house animals until investigator protocols are approved by the IACUC. This prevents euthanasia of valuable research animals, while remaining in compliance with regulatory requirements. The use of the Animal Holding Protocol is limited to housing and maintenance only. Absolutely no experimental intervention may occur. Time sensitive procedures may be completed relating to animal identification, tissue collection for genotyping of genetically engineered animals and maintenance of breeding colonies when delay could result in the loss of a line. All veterinary treatment and euthanasia will be at the discretion of the ULAR veterinarian and performed by ULAR staff. ULAR will assume responsibility for routine maintenance, husbandry and veterinary care of the animals.

Access to animals housed under the IACUC/ULAR Animal Holding Protocol will in most cases be limited to ULAR staff. Investigators and designees will be allowed access only at the discretion of the IACUC Chair and under supervision of ULAR. All animals will be housed in the ULAR vivaria and no outside housing will be permitted unless in the rare case that the species cannot be housed in a vivarium. Per Diem charges for animals on the IACUC/ULAR Animal Holding Protocol will be the responsibility of the principal investigator. Projects funded by NIH are not permitted to pay for per diem rates using these funds when animals are on the holding protocol. The PI will need to provide ULAR an updated billing account.

What is the difference between IACUC, ULAR and ORRP?

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): Any institution using animals to conduct research, teaching, or testing is required by federal regulations to establish an IACUC. The IACUC is responsible for the oversight of all animal use activities including the review of Animal Use Protocols and The Ohio State University’s Animal Care and Use Program. The IACUC also monitors the institution’s animal facilities to ensure compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.

University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR): ULAR is responsible for the day to day care of animals in the ULAR vivaria and for providing animal related services to investigators. ULAR services include animal procurement, training, research and surgery support, and veterinary assistance for research development and animal care.

Office of Responsible Research Practices (ORRP): ORRP provides administrative support to the IACUC and the University research community. The ORRP staff assists investigators seeking committee approvals to conduct research and provides educational tools to support the responsible conduct of research. The ORRP staff supports the committee review procedures including meetings, semi-annual inspections and site visits to housing and procedure areas.

What is the IACUC?

Any institution using animals to conduct research, teaching, or testing is required by federal regulations to establish an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC, qualified through the experience and expertise of its members, is responsible for the oversight of all animal use activities including the review of Animal Use Protocols and The Ohio State University’s Animal Care and Use Program. The IACUC also monitors the institutions animal facilities to ensure compliance with standards and regulatory requirements.

The IACUC members are appointed by the Senior Vice President for Research after consultation with the IACUC, the Senior Associate Vice President for Research, the deans of the appropriate colleges, and the Office of Responsible Research Practices (ORRP).

When is the next IACUC meeting?

View the schedule for convened IACUC meeting dates.

How do I transfer animals from one Animal Use Protocol to another?

The transfer of animals from one IACUC approved Animal Use Protocol to another is processed utilizing the ULAR “Request for Animal Transfer Form”. To obtain a transfer form or for assistance with an animal transfer, contact ULAR at (614) 292-3024 or the IACUC Office at (614) 292-4494 or (614) 292-0409.

Who do I contact about sick animals or animal welfare concerns?

Sick Animal(s): If you find a sick animal or observe an animal’s behavior being abnormal, please report this to ULAR husbandry staff or ULAR clinical veterinarians:

Biomedical Research: Please go to http://ular.osu.edu/contact/. Look for names with “Clinical Veterinarian” and/or “Team Leader” next to them.
Agriculture Research: Please go to https://ansci.osu.edu/about-us/facilities/animal-units. Click the link to the facility where the animal is located. The Farm Manager’s name and contact information will be on that page.

Animal Welfare Concerns: If you observe anything that gives you concern about how animals are being handled, please use the contacts listed on the following website to report the concern: https://orrp.osu.edu/resources/animalconcerns/ – Anonymous reporting is available

Who do I contact if I want to order animals?

You must contact University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) to order animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Animal Care and Use Program

Animal Use Protocols

Hazardous Materials

Housing Animals

Personnel / Personnel Requirements

The IACUC

Using Animals

When did Ohio State become accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)?

Where can I find information on The Ohio State University’s Animal Welfare (OLAW) Assurance?

Do I always need to submit an amendment for changes to my protocol?