Animal Care & Use
IACUC
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Eastern Washington University ensures that all live animals that are used in research and teaching receive ethical and humane care and treatment. EWU follows all Federal regulations and procedures to ensure compliance in all activities and oversees all animal activities that occur at the University.
Click here for more information about IACUC.
EWU is compliant with Public Health Policy (PHS) on Human Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Relevant regulations and policies
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Working with Animals
To conduct research or classroom activities involving vertebrate animals at EWU, a Protocol Review Form (PRF) must be completed, submitted and approved by the IACUC before starting the project. Once approved, protocols are valid for three years from the date of approval. No animal research may be performed without a valid approved protocol.
Form Submission:
All protocols that are not completed on the correct form will be returned without review. PRFs are to be submitted to the IACUC by the faculty member who is responsible for student research/classroom projects. Email completed PRFs to David Daberkow (ddaberkow@ewu.edu). Protocols may take up to 1 month to be reviewed. An approval email will be sent when the protocol is approved.
Review:
The current protocol review process is first-come first-served and may take up to 4 weeks. Review is conducted using the Comments feature in Word and circulated via e-mail.
Amendments:
Changes to an active IACUC protocol must be approved before implementation. To request approval for a change(s), email your amendment (explanation of changes) to the IACUC Chair (ddaberkow@ewu.edu). If needed, revise the active IACUC protocol.
Safety
All faculty, staff and students who are named or working on an IACUC protocol and who are using live vertebrate animals must participate in the EWU Occupational Health and Safety Program. Please complete the required form and return to Environment Health and Safety at 002 Martin Hall, Cheney, Campus.
Forms will be forwarded to the University’s contracted medical provider who will review and determine if any special precaution will be necessary.
It is also advised that all individuals working with live vertebrate animals receive a Tetanus vaccination.
Training
All personnel conducting federally supported research involving animals are required to complete the training offered through CITI Program.
Please check with the IACUC chair or with your faculty advisor regarding department or institutional requirements for animal care and use training. Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program training is available:
Research students and teaching assistants:
Students participating in research projects must complete training modules on the IACUC CANVAS site. Note the specific modules reviewed on your PRF (under section X., Training and Experience). The five modules are also below:
Why do I need to have a protocol to work with animals?
Eastern is committed to ethical care and treatment of all animals and complies with all Federal regulations and guidelines. As such, any individual that requires teaching, testing or research involving vertebrate animals, must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC.
How long is a protocol approved for?
Approved protocols are valid for three years. After three years a new protocol must be submitted and a complete review must occur for a protocol to be approved. Any changes or modifications to a protocol should be reviewed by the IACUC Chair.
What if I want to change some of the procedures that are in my approved protocol?
You must notify the IACUC Chair to discuss any changes to an approved protocol. Some modifications may only require administrative action, while others may require a complete review.
Do student research projects require the IACUC review process?
Yes. All research activities done with live animals must be approved by the IACUC. Protocols for student research projects should be submitted early in the quarter to ensure enough time to review and revise the protocol and to complete the project.
How do I begin the IACUC review process?
Applications for animal use and research activities are submitted via an online database system. Please see the Forms page to begin the submission process. Submissions by student researchers will be sent to their faculty supervisor for approval prior to being reviewed by the IACUC.
I am on a tight timeline to get my research done. How long does the IACUC review process take?
A well written protocol usually can be reviewed and approved within two weeks. However, if there are questions or procedures that need to be revised, it may take several additional weeks based on your responsiveness to the feedback.
What factors do IACUC members consider when reviewing my research proposal?
The IACUC is concerned about the care of the animals, and whether any animal will be harmed, or whether the potential for harm exists, as a part of your protocol. The IACUC must ensure that investigators have appropriately considered alternatives to procedures that can cause more than a slight or momentary pain or distress to an animal, and that the procedure is consistent with sound research design and that the scientific merit of the project outweighs harm to animals. Additionally, if euthanasia is part of the project, procedures must meet the federal guidelines. The minimum number of animals should also be considered in order for you to effectively conduct the research with reasonable statistical power. You are encouraged to review the Federal requirements for protocols. See article: Everything You Need to Know About Satisfying IACUC Protocol Requirements.
Is it possible that the IACUC will deny approval of my research proposal?
Yes. It is important to do your research and write a well written protocol. It is helpful to review the federal regulations and to participate in training opportunities in order to understand how to write a strong protocol.
Does IACUC have oversight for service animals on campus? Do they need a protocol?
Service animals are under the care of their owner and are not regulated by IACUC as they are not used for teaching or research. If an owner wants to use their service animals for teaching or research purposes, then a protocol would need to be submitted. See EWU Service Animal Policy.
