As mandated by the Animal Welfare Act, it is the responsibility of the research institution to ensure that all individuals using animals in research or teaching are qualified and appropriately trained. Ohio State’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requires that all personnel complete the following mandatory training courses and registries.
System Registration
For any individual to be listed on an animal use protocol they must be provisioned an account in the e-Protocol system by completing the e-Protocol registration. Individuals who have not registered will not have access to e-Protocol and will not be available for selection as study team members in the system. Learn how to use and navigate the e-Protocol system.
Requirements
Occupational Health Program
United States Department of Agriculture and Public Health Service regulations require a risk assessment as part of the Occupational Health Program. The assessment is mandatory for all staff, employees, students and volunteers who have direct or indirect exposure to animals used in research. Students whose exposure to animals is limited to classroom activities only are not required to complete the form.
The initial evaluation submitted via the Online Risk Assessment Tool (ORAT) establishes a baseline of an individual’s health and potential exposure risks. Subsequent updates help assess an individual’s changing risks. In many cases, an initial risk assessment is all that is necessary. For some individuals, however, a clinical examination and vaccination(s) may be required as well.
Animal Usage Orientation and Occupational Health and Safety Training
The course that meets the educational requirements for Animal Usage Orientation Training and Occupational Health and Safety Training, entitled “Working With the IACUC,” is provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program at the University of Miami. This CITI basic course is required initially, with a refresher course required every three years thereafter, for all individuals involved in the care and use of animals at Ohio State. CITI must be accessed with an Ohio State credentials to ensure credit is reported back to Ohio State and uploaded to study team requirements on approved protocols.
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
The university requires all individuals eligible to conduct research to be trained in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). All research eligible individuals must take the CITI RCR course.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Each individual involved in an Animal Use Protocol must have a current Disclosure Form on file.
Experience and Training Narrative
Each individual involved in an Animal Use Protocol must have a current Experience and Training Narrative describing their previous experience and/or training regarding specific species and activities to be performed in all of the protocols in which they are listed.