Policy on Training

 

Policy on training for NEW animal users:

It is required by the University Committee on Animal Care (UCAC) that all faculty, staff, students, and volunteers wishing to use animals in research or teaching at ETSU must (no exceptions) complete the online training course and exam. Additionally, an orientation tour of the animal facility and participation in the Occupational Health and Safety Program (OH&SP) are required before an individual can use/handle animals. An orientation will be scheduled by DLAR after training and Occupational Health requirements are met and the individual has been added to an active animal use protocol(s). The steps to becoming approved to use animals are:

  • Complete and submit a Health Assessment. Submission of a Health Assessment form is how you enroll in OH&SP. Your Health Assessment will be reviewed by the OH&SP physician, and DLAR will be contacted once you have been approved to work with animals. Annually, the OH&SP Coordinator will contact you to request a Health Assessment Update. This is a brief form which requests notification of any changes in medication, health status, etc, that may have occurred during the past year. These annual updates are required for all animal users.

    A Risk Inventory is required for each lab in which animals are used, and should be submitted annually by the PI. The OH&SP Coordinator will send a reminder each year when an updated Risk Inventory is due.
  • Complete the Online Research Training Program* Go to the website www.citiprogram.org (open with Internet Explorer or Chrome).

    Complete the course "Investigators, Staff, and Students"; follow the instructions for CITI Initial Training.
  • You must be listed on an approved Animal Study Protocol. The PI for the project on which you will be working is required to add new personnel to the appropriate protocol.
  • Attend an orientation to the animal facility. Once you have completed the online training, your Health Assessment is approved, and you have been added to an active protocol(s), the Assistant Director of DLAR will contact you to schedule an orientation to the facility in which you will be working.

Policy on refresher training for CURRENT animal users:

Individuals who are approved to use animals in research at ETSU must complete a refresher training module every three years in order to retain their "active user" status.

Those who do not complete the refresher as required will not be permitted to work with animals until the module has been completed. Individuals will receive a notice from DLAR every three years as a reminder.

To access the refresher training:

Policy for visitors

Training requirements for visitors wishing to use or handle animals for research and/or teaching at ETSU will be determined individually by the UCAC. Determining factors for training requirements of visitors at ETSU will be previous experience, length of stay, and level of involvement in an animal study protocol at ETSU. If the visitor was approved to work with animals by the IACUC at their home institution, please submit supporting documentation to the ETSU UCAC.



* About the Online Animal Research Training Program
The online Animal Research Training Program is presented by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Office at the University of Miami. ETSU has adopted is as required training for all animal users as per policy of the UCAC.

As of August 18th, 2005, the UCAC requires that all NEW animal users take the online training course and exam.

Note: Investigators applying for VA-funded grants using animals also must complete the online training as part of their grant submission process for VA monies.

  • Investigators have the responsibility of being aware of current policies and regulations regarding humane animal care and use.  If you have any questions regarding animal use issues, we encourage you to take a refresher course using the online training program.

Please contact Jennifer Hoard at 439-8819 or hoard@etsu.edu if you have any questions regarding the Animal Research Training Program.

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