Emory University Training Program For The Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

  
 
 
     
  Background
Web Training Program
Other Training
Training Requirements
How to obtain training - username and password
Required Personnel Certification - Animal Welfare Act		  
     
     
 
 

Background

  
 
 
  The federal Animal Welfare Law (administered by the USDA) and regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services (including PHS) require training and continuing education of all scientists, research technicians, animal care technicians and others involved with animal care and use. These laws and regulations require that the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) as an agent of Emory University, determine that personnel wishing to conduct procedures on animals are qualified and trained to do so on the animal species proposed. To fulfill this responsibility, the IACUC requires all personnel involved with animal care and use to participate in the training program described herein.  
     
 
 

WebTraining Program

  
 
 
  Web program training is required of all persons using and caring for laboratory animals at Emory University including scientists, research and animal care personnel. Refer to Table 1 for training requirements for work with specific animal species and techniques. Each person must complete a web-based interactive review of the required materials. The web program will record the training modules completed by each participant. Completion of this training will fulfill IACUC requirements to conduct studies using specified animals and techniques. This training should be noted in the appropriate section of the IACUC Credentials form, indicating the species and techniques for which training was completed. The web site URL for the IACUC Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative or “CITI” website is http://www.citiprogram.org/ . Each individual must create their own username and password to login.  
     
 
 

Other Training

  
 
 
  The faculty of the Division of Animal Resources offers a 2-credit graduate course, IBS 570 "Essentials of Animal Experimentation" in the spring semester of each year. Completion of this course satisfies IACUC basic requirements for training to undertake research with animals. This course is to provide fundamental information on the selection and care of animals used in biomedical research. Discussions are held on ethical considerations, institutional and federal regulations affecting animal research, selection of animals for use in animal research, the biology of research animals, identification and control of variables in animal studies, principles and techniques of surgery, safety considerations, anesthesia and euthanasia procedures. Handling, restraint, substance administration and collection of specimens are demonstrated and practiced through laboratory sessions.

The DAR faculty also periodically offers courses on the biology and medicine of laboratory animals. Courses offered previously covered the biology and medicine of rodents, non-human primates, and many other laboratory animals. Courses include a discussion of the relationship of animal's characteristics and its use in biomedical research. Clinical manifestations and pathologic characteristics of induced and naturally occurring infectious and metabolic/degenerative diseases are covered. Courses also emphasize animal house surveillance, preventive medicine, diagnostic and control methods and the effects of diseases and environmental variables on experimental results. Animal care and maintenance of, including caging, housing sanitation and nutrition are also covered. Contact the DAR office (7-7423) to obtain additional information on the course offerings.

Special training sessions can be arranged for research methods (with animals) not covered in the web modules, and for additional training in methods which are presented in the web modules. Contact the DAR office (7-7423) or the Animal Resource office of the Yerkes Primate Center (7-7740) to arrange for additional training.

 
     
 
 

Table 1:

 
  Training Requirements  
 
 
     
 
Animal Species/Techniques Description
Working with the IACUC
(This module must be completed in order to obtain IACUC credit for training)
This course is designed with the following specific goals in mind:
1. Help investigators fill out animal protocol forms and interact effectively with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC);
2. Provide a review of basic issues with which IACUC members must become familiar to effectively review animal research proposals;
3. Provide information on important issues that must be addressed in a typical animal protocol form; and
4. Provide training required by the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations and Public Health Service Policy.
Working with Mice in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using mice in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling mice or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Rats in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using rats in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling rats or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Summaries of key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Hamsters in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using hamsters in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling hamsters or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Gerbils in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using gerbils in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling gerbils or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Guinea Pigs in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using guinea pigs in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling guinea pigs or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Rabbits in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using rabbits in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling rabbits or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Cats in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using cats in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling cats or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Dogs in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using dogs in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling dogs or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Swine in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using swine in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling swine or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Nonhuman Primates in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using Nonhuman Primates in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling Nonhuman Primates or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Working with Amphibians in Research Settings
The goal of this course is to cover important information about using amphibians in biomedical research settings. If you are responsible for handling amphibians or if you must write an animal use protocol, this course will be useful by providing you with:
1. Information on key regulatory issues.
2. Guidance on searches for alternatives in the care and use of animals.
3. Highlights of unique biological features of these animals.
4. Overviews of acceptable basic methodologies.
5. Requirements for supportive care procedures.
Post-Procedural Care of Rodents
The goal of this course is to provide information on how to minimize pain and distress in mice and rats during and after experimental procedures. This course will address:
- Factors that may confound the interpretation of experimental data.
- Methods for monitoring rodents for pain and distress.
- Methods for alleviating or minimizing pain and distress in rodents.
- Systematic documentation of health monitoring for rodents.
Essentials for IACUC Members
The goals of this course are as follows:
1. To provide IACUC members with information essential to performing their jobs on the IACUC, including interactions with institutional administrators as well as regulatory and accrediting agencies.
2. To help meet mandatory training requirements in the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations and PHS Policy.
3. To offer best practices that can help IACUCs maintain a high level of performance and compliance in institutional animal care and use programs.
 
     
     
 
 

Appendix 1

  
  HOW TO OBTAIN TRAINING LABORATORY ANIMAL TRAINING ASSOCIATION (CITI Training Program) INTEGRATED TRAINING PROGRAM  
 
 
     
  The web site URL for the IACUC CITI Training Program website is http://www.CITI Training Program.org For University Identification purposes, you will need a username and password to enter this site. Each individual must create their own username and password to login. Click HERE for a MS PowerPoint introduction on how to use the CITI program  
     
  For further information, please contact:  
 
Christine Gomez IACUC 404.712.0729
The IACUC Staff IACUC 404.712.0731 or 404.712.0734
Danny Whittle VA 404.327.4938
Greg Kable DAR 404.727.3014
Kay Lee Summerville Yerkes 404.727.7740
 
     
 
 

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PERSONNEL

 
 
 
     
  Section 2.32 of the Animal Welfare Act, states:  
  (a) It shall be the responsibility of the research facility to ensure that all scientists, research technicians, animal technicians, and other personnel involved in animal care, treatment, and use are qualified to perform their duties. This responsibility shall be fulfilled in part through the provision of training and instruction to those personnel.  
  (b) Training and instruction shall be made available, and the qualifications of personnel reviewed, with sufficient frequency to fulfill the research facilities responsibilities under this section and section 2.31 ("Animal Care and Use Committee," which is required to ensure the appropriate training and qualifications of personnel conducting procedures).  
     
  Certification of all personnel participating in an animal study is required for continued IACUC approval.  
     
  Certification may be obtained by completing the Emory University training course on the Care And Use of Animals, available on the CITI Training Program training website, or through courses offered by the Division of Animal Resources. Names of those who complete each training module will be forwarded to IACUC.  
     
  TO FACILITATE THE IACUC REVIEW PROCESS ALL PERSONNEL SHOULD COMPLETE THE NECESSARY TRAINING COURSES PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSAL