The Animal Welfare Act, Animal Welfare Regulations, and PHS Policy require institutions to provide training for all personnel engaged in animal research to include, but not limited to, the following:  Principal Investigators, research associates, post-doctorate fellows, students, animal facility personnel, and IACUC members.

All persons engaged in animal research shall participate in a formal training program which will consist of a Web-based tutorial or one-on-one training as deemed necessary by the Principal Investigator and/or IACUC.  Training will be confirmed and documented by the Office of Research Compliance.

Mercer University uses a web-based training through the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI). It provides the basic training in the humane care and use of animals in research and teaching as well as periodic refresher courses for animal research personnel. The animal care and use training course entitled can be found at
CITIProgram.org

All researchers and other personnel involved in animal care, treatment or use are required to complete, at a minimum, the following modules:

·         Introduction to Working with the IACUC

·         Working with the IACUC

·         Federal Mandates

·         The Veterinary Consultation

·         Getting Started

·         Alternatives

·         Avoiding Unnecessary Duplication

·         USDA Pain/Distress Categories

·         Endpoint Criteria

·         Surgery

·         Antibody Production

·         Collecting Blood Samples

·         Personnel Training and Experience

·         Occupational Health and Safety

·         Using Hazardous and Toxic Agents in Animals

·         Housing Social Animals

·         Housing Rodents on Wire Floors

·         Dog Exercise

·         Primate Psychological Enrichment

·         Prolonged Restraint

·         Euthanasia

·         Using Human Patient Care Areas for Animal Research

·         Using Explosive Agents in the Animal Facility

·         Making Changes after You Receive Approval

·         Reporting Misuse, Mistreatment, or Non-Compliance

·         Final Comments

*Choose the “Working with” Module(s) applicable to your research project

The University Attending Veterinarian or the IACUC will determine, on a project-by-project basis, whether any additional training is needed. Specific hand-on training is accomplished on an individual, as needed basis by qualified staff or by the veterinarian but recommended to ensure proficiency in all protocol-related animal procedures.  For example, training is required, in husbandry procedures for the particular species involved in the protocol procedures, including surgical, to be performed on the animals.

Any training mandated by the University Veterinarian or the IACUC will be communicated to the principal investigator.  Once accomplished, mandated training will be documented and kept on file with the Office of Research Compliance. Copies should be kept with the investigator also to be available for semi-annual program and facility inspections.

In the event that the CITI Program for Laboratory Animal Welfare computer-based training becomes unavailable, the institution may replace CITI with equivalent training.

Refresher Course Requirements: All research personnel listed on approved IACUC protocols must complete the CITI Refresher Course training in laboratory animal use at least once every three years. All researchers will receive a reminder directly from CITI when their refresher course is “due”. Completion of required training will be verified at the time of annual continuation of existing protocols and at submission of all new or three-year renewal protocol application. Applications will not be reviewed until this requirement is complete.