The University of Mississippi
Research and Sponsored Programs
Animal Research ~ Frequently Asked Questions ~ Protocol Review and Oversight
Who should submit an Animal Study Protocol Application form?
Whether funded or not, administrators, faculty, staff, or students must submit an Animal Study Protocol Application form for review and approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for all animal research conducted at, by, or under the auspices of The University of Mississippi before the research begins. Student projects are submitted under the name of their advisor.
Do I need an approved Animal Study Protocol Application form to trap wild animals if I already have the required state or federal trapping permit and landowner permission?
Yes. Although the UM IACUC has no jurisdiction over permit granting agency projects, it still reviews the protocol and may ask for clarification or modifications. This committee may terminate UM involvement if the agency project does not comply with federal regulations or guidelines for the responsible conduct of research on animals.
I am using chick embryos. Do I need to submit a protocol application?
You only need to file an Animal Study Protocol Application form if the chick embryos are allowed to hatch or if you are housing the adults supplying the eggs.
I need to file a change to my IACUC approved protocol. What do I do?
All modifications, whether “significant” or “minor,” to an approved animal study protocol must be submitted to the IACUC for review and approval using a Protocol Amendment form before they are instituted. The Guidelines for Reporting Modifications to Protocols for Vertebrate Animal Use provide additional details regarding the types of changes the IACUC might regard as “significant” thus requiring their review, or “minor” requiring the Attending Veterinarian’s and/or Chair’s approval. Proposed modifications must fit with the objectives, purpose, or aims stated in the original protocol. If this requirement is not met, then the IACUC will require a new protocol.
Can the IACUC stop my research project after a protocol has been approved?
Yes. The IACUC can suspend activities if animals under your care experience a high morbidity/mortality rate or if the IACUC determines that the activity is not being conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of the AWA, the Guide, the UM Assurance or PHS Policy. The AWAR and the PHS Policy (IV,B,8) state that the Institutional Official, in consultation with the IACUC, must take appropriate corrective action in the event of a suspension of a previously approved activity. OLAW, NIH, and USDA must be notified if any suspension of activities occurs.
Are any animal studies exempted from review?
The Animal Welfare Act Regulations (§2.31, d, 1) state that studies “...that are conducted on free-living wild animals in their natural habitat and do not involve an invasive procedure, any harm to the animal, or any material alteration of the behavior of an animal under study” do not require an IACUC approved protocol. PHS Policy II requires compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (Silverman, et al. Pg. 233). Therefore, an IACUC approved protocol is not required if the study involves unobtrusive observation of free-living wild animals in their natural habitat. All other studies involving the use and care of vertebrate animals require an IACUC approved protocol.