IACUC Policy 200 - Training Policy

Effective Date: April 15, 2026 (revised version; originally adopted on August 18, 2021, revised on May 17, 2023)

I. Policy Purpose

The Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR) require that institutions ensure that all personnel involved in research, teaching, and/or testing are qualified and trained to perform their duties. Institutions must make training and instruction available in the humane practice of animal care and use, as well as research or testing methods that minimize the number of animals required to obtain valid results and minimize animal pain and distress. The purpose of this policy is to delineate required training for investigators and/or personnel involved in the regular animal care or treatment of vertebrate animals and cephalopods covered under an SIUC IACUC protocol.

II. Policy Definitions

CITI: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), the online training platform which supplies content for SIUC investigators.

III. Policy Statement

All personnel involved with the care and use of animals must be adequately educated, trained, and/or qualified to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise for the specific animal procedures proposed and the species used. Before working with or providing care to live vertebrate animals or cephalopods, the SIUC IACUC requires the completion of online training modules through CITI. In addition to online training, principal investigators (PIs) should work closely with protocol personnel to provide any necessary hands-on training. All online and in-person training must be documented and retained by the PI or laboratory manager.

IV. Procedures

All investigators and personnel must complete the following three courses before work with animals can begin, regardless of the species they plan to work with:

• Working with the IACUC
• Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats
• SIUC Animal Care

If the protocol involves surgery, then all personnel involved in surgery and post-operative care must be explicitly listed in the protocol and complete the applicable training:

• Aseptic Surgery

Personnel must also complete the taxon-specific module available that addresses the special needs and interests of those particular taxa. For example:

• Working with Mice in Research
• Working with Genetically Modified Mice
• Working with Rats in Research Settings
• Working with Cattle in An Agricultural Research Setting
• Working with Dogs in Research Settings
• Working with Horses in An Agricultural Research Setting
• Working with Swine in Research Settings
• Working with Fish in Research Settings
• Working with Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in Research Settings
• Working with Amphibians in Research Settings
• Working with Reptiles in a Research Setting
• Wildlife Research

CITI training is valid for three years. At the end of three years, investigators and personnel must complete the module “Working with Animals in Biomedical Research – Refresher Course.” The initial modules need not be repeated. This refresher course must be completed every three years.

The Office of Research Compliance will ensure that individuals who are listed on an SIUC IACUC protocol and/or personnel involved in regular animal care or treatment have completed necessary online training before any protocol receives final approval.

Principal investigators are responsible for hands-on, practical training of their students and staff. This training must be documented on the training record kept in the IACUC binder. This specialty training can include topics such as methods of inducing and controlling anesthesia, various surgical techniques, trapping methods for wildlife, zoonoses, methods of euthanasia, proper handling to prevent additional stress, behavioral training, and many other topics.

V. References

Animal Welfare Regulations, 9 C.F.R §1 (2023). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/chapter-I/subchapter-A

National Research Council. (2011). Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals (8th ed.). The National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12910/guide-for-the-care-and-use-oflaboratory-animals-eighth

Tucker, C. B., MacNeil, M. D., Webster, A. B. (Eds.). (2020). The guide for the care and use of agricultural animals in research and teaching (4th ed.). American Society of Animal Science. https://www.asas.org/services/ag-guide