Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

For New Research

All protocols must be submitted digitally for veterinary pre-review prior to committee review. Prior to new or full protocol review investigators/instructors must consult with the attending veterinarian (Tiffany Borjeson, DVM).

All activities affiliated in any way with RIC, which involve use, maintenance or transport of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds or mammals must be approved by the IACUC.

Prior approval must be obtained before animals are purchased or any such activity is initiated.

Individuals wishing to conduct such activities must complete an Application For Use of Vertebrate Animals For Research or Teaching.

Depending on the nature of the experimentation proposed, the Application also may require submission of one or more appendices. If so, use one or more of the following links to access complete and submit the form to Dr. Steven Threlkeld, Chair of the Rhode Island College IACUC:

• Appendix AB - Antibody Production
• Appendix AC - Substances and Materials
• Appendix AD - Specimen Collection
• Appendix AE - Surgery
• Appendix AF - Special Housing and Procedures

Principal investigators should plan to complete and submit a hard copy of the application and any associated appendices to the IACUC chair at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting. The attending veterinarian should be contacted two weeks in advance of the scheduled meeting. The committee currently meets four times each year. Substantial lead-time is required when seeking federal funding for animal-related projects, because evidence of IACUC approval typically must be submitted with the application. Therefore, investigators submitting grants involving the use of animals should consult with the IACUC chair and attending veterinarian early in the grant writing process.

Please Note: Approved protocols require yearly continuing research review and a three-year full review as mandated by Federal Public Health Service Policy. Renewal and three year full reviews must be completed no later than the date of expiration in order for the study to be in compliance with federal regulations. Federal regulations do not allow for ANY grace period for renewal.

Investigators and instructors are responsible for accurate and timely protocol submission.

For Continuing Research

For principal investigators/instructors whose animal care protocol has been submitted, reviewed and approved by IACUC in the manner above, a yearly Continuing Review Form must be submitted to continue research.

The continuing review form must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC no later than the date of expiration in order for the study to be in compliance with federal regulations. Again, federal regulations do not allow for any grace period for renewal.

View the Continuing Review Form

Please Note: Do not submit the Continuing Review Form unless you have an already-approved animal care protocol.

For Completed Research

Principal investigators whose animal care protocols have ended or research has been completed prior to the expiration date of the approved protocol must submit a Protocol Closeout Form indicating that the research has been completed. All animals used in the final year of the proposal must be reported for the third/final year of an approved full protocol as is required for the yearly continuing review.

View the Protocol Closeout Form

Who Should Complete IACUC Trainings

All individuals who handle live vertebrate animals under the following conditions must complete online training modules through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI):

• graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants participating in courses in which they are required to direct and assist students in laboratory activities utilizing live vertebrate animals
• graduate and undergraduate students utilizing live vertebrate animals in their independent research activities either in the laboratory or field setting
• faculty and staff members planning to utilize live vertebrate animals in teaching or research activities and lab animal technicians caring for or maintaining animal facilities

These individuals must complete the CITI training module “Working with the IACUC”.

How to Access the Trainings

• Login at CITI Program | Research, Ethics, and Compliance Training.
• To register for the first time, in association with RIC, enter “Rhode Island College” in the “Select Your Organization Affiliation” box. Follow the subsequent prompts to set yourself up as a learner.

Steps to Take after Training

• Once the required training is completed, send a copy to the IACUC chair.
• The IACUC chair and/or attending veterinarian should be consulted for recommendations of additional training modules needed for the use of specific species. For example, “Working with Rats in Research Settings” or “Working with Mice in Research Settings”.

Animal Handler Health Forms

All health documentation paperwork must be completed PRIOR to handling of live animals. All individuals who handle live vertebrate animals under the following conditions must complete Animal Handler Health Documentation:

• graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants participating in courses in which they are required to direct and assist students in laboratory activities utilizing live vertebrate animals.
• graduate and undergraduate students utilizing live vertebrate animals in their independent research activities either in a laboratory or field setting.
• faculty and staff members planning to utilize live vertebrate animals in teaching or research activities and lab animal technicians caring for or maintaining animal facilities.

View the Animal Handler Health Form

Should an injury or illness resulting from animal handling activity occur, you must complete an Animal Handler Health Form – Injury Report.

All forms must be submitted to Rhode Island College Health Services. A copy of any injury report should also be forwarded to the IACUC chair. ​