102 Roudebush Hall • Phone: 513-529-3734 • Fax: 513-529-3762

General Information for Starters

Miami University is committed to the humane care and use of animals in research, teaching and testing and complies with all applicable provisions of Public Health Service Policy, the Animal Welfare Act, and other relevant federal statutes and regulations. As part of these requirements, all research and/or teaching by University personnel or students that involves the use of vertebrate animals must be reviewed and approved by Miami University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

What is a Protocol?
Do I need to submit a protocol?
What form do I need and where can I get it?
To whom do I submit a proposal?
What is the review process?
If I need help, where can I get it?
When are the protocol deadlines?

What is a Protocol?

A protocol is an application to use live non-human vertebrate animals in research and /or teaching. It is used by Miami University’s IACUC to determine whether investigators/instructors may have permission to use these animals.

Do I need to submit a protocol?

Any student, staff or faculty member who is proposing to use vertebrate animals in research and/or teaching must submit a protocol.

What form do I need and where can I get it?

The form entitled “Application to use live vertebrate animals in research and/or teaching” can be downloaded from the Download Form section of this website. The person(s) preparing it as well as faculty mentor (for student projects) and the responsible departmental chair(s) must sign the protocol.

To whom do I submit a proposal?

Protocols are submitted to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) in 102 Roudebush Hall. The original and three (3) copies of the application are required. Updated application forms and new procedures are located on the Application Website

What is the review process?

The IACUC chair, Animal Facilities Supervisor and University Veterinarian are responsible for reviewing all submitted protocols. A fourth reviewer is chosen by alternating among the remaining six IACUC members. In addition, the Assistant Head Science Librarian serves as a consultant to the IACUC chair; she reviews all protocols to ensure they have properly documented literature searches for duplication of research and alternatives to vertebrate use. All members of the IACUC receive copies of submitted protocols and may provide comments on the application. The IACUC Chair receives written reviews from all participants.

If a protocol receives unqualified approval, the investigator/instructor is provided with a letter certifying the approval. In cases where the IACUC requires clarification(s) or modification(s), the investigator/instructor is notified by the IACUC Chair by letter. In such cases, the approval is issued following receipt of an acceptable response from the investigator/instructor. In case of a disapproved protocol, the investigator/instructor is notified by the IACUC Chair and advised as to available options.

If I need help, where can I get it?

For information about invertebrate or other alternatives, see Useful Links . For general questions, see FAQs . If you encounter problems downloading the form, call OARS (9-3600). Questions about animal care can be answered by calling the Animal Facilities Supervisor (9-5455).

When are the protocol deadlines?

There are no formal deadlines for protocol submission. Protocol review begins shortly after receipt in the OARS office. Review is usually completed, and a letter prepared by the IACUC chair, within one month after submission. However, if the protocol does not receive unqualified approval, additional time may be required to satisfy points raised by the IACUC review. Investigators/instructors must allow for sufficient time between the dates they submit a proposal and when they anticipate using animals; animals may not be ordered and experiments may not commence until a protocol has been approved by the IACUC.