Who Needs to be Listed on an IACUC Protocol?

The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for ensuring that all key personnel (with respect to animal care and use) are included on an approved IACUC protocol or approved amendment before performing any animal related procedures.

Additionally, the PI is responsible for ensuring that any other personnel participating in the animal use, teaching, or research activity, including those that do not rise to the level of key personnel on the IACUC protocol, are enrolled in applicable occupational health and safety programs as appropriate.

Definition of “key personnel”
Any and all individuals who will oversee and/or conduct the animal related procedures described in the protocol, such as PIs, graduate and undergraduate students, post-docs, paid staff, visiting researchers, or volunteers. At a minimum, an IACUC protocol’s listed personnel must include the name of the PI.  The qualifications and training of key personnel must be described as requested on the IACUC application, key personnel must complete required IACUC training, and key personnel must be enrolled in appropriate occupational health and safety programs, including the OHSS.

For additional information, please refer to the Personnel SOP (see attached) 

Definition of "animal related procedures"
Activities that involve handling of animals or any manipulation of the environment that would influence animals in any measurable way. This includes manipulations or procedures that will affect the behavior or physiological state of an animal, including animal handling, tagging, tissue sample collection, providing food, playback of sounds, habitat manipulation, or closer approach to the animals by humans than they would typically encounter as background levels from the public.

Definition of “other personnel”
Other personnel may include those individuals that participate in the animal use, teaching, or research activity but that do not oversee or conduct the animal related procedures described in the protocol. These are individuals, who in the course of their employment, research, or education, have exposures to animals that increase their risks of an occupational illness, such as a zoonotic disease, physical injury, or an animal allergy. This may include intentional exposure (e.g., research assistants with limited animal contact) or incidental exposure (e.g., maintenance workers in animal facilities).  Other personnel may be required to enroll in appropriate occupational health and safety programs, including the OHSS.