The University of Mississippi
Research and Sponsored Programs
Submitting an Animal Study Application / Non-Personnel Protocol Amendment
1. DON’T USE JARGON. Help all IACUC members, including community members, comprehend your application. Define abbreviations. Avoid technical language that only specialists in your field would understand.
2. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. If a question does not apply to your study, mark “no” or “not applicable (n/a).”
3. CLEARLY DESCRIBE PROCEDURES. Descriptions of procedures should stand alone and, other than an SOP, should not refer to another document, such as a grant application. List all possible anesthetics.
4. MAKE THE EXPERIMENT DESIGN CLEAR. For more complex experiments, provide a flow chart or a simple outline to help guide reviewers.
5. COMPLETE AND ATTACH APPLICABLE APPENDICES. The online forms are listed separately, allowing you to pick only those that apply to your study.
6. CONTACT ATTENDING VETERINARIAN. Dr. Fyke is available to guide your writing. He must be consulted for all protocols having animals in pain categories C or D.
7. COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED TRAINING. Incomplete AALAS Species Specific and Health and Safety training delays processing.
8. IF CONDUCTING SURGERY. Complete mandatory training and obtain surgery proficiency certification from the Attending Veterinarian, Dr. Fyke.
9. COMPLETE AND SUBMIT PERSONNEL HEALTH FORMS TO DR. FYKE. The OHSP Risk Inventory (sent in unsealed envelope) and Occupational Health Evaluation (sent in sealed envelope) must be submitted for all personnel listed on a protocol application, and reviewed/signed by the occupational health physician.
10. PLAN FOR PROCESSING TIME. Approval of protocol applications and/or significant change amendments take a minimum of three weeks and depend on submitting all required forms, office processing time, and time for PI responses to IACUC comments.
11. SUBMIT SIGNED APPLICATION ASAP. To expedite processing, submit protocols via e-mail to askiacuc@research.olemiss.edu and fax signature sheet to ext. 7577. In lieu of faxed signature sheet, deliver one signed copy to the IACUC Office, 100 Barr Hall. Applications will not be sent out for review until signed copy is received in IACUC Office. No research may begin until written final approval is received.
12. ALWAYS CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR THE MOST CURRENT FORMS. Use the online forms to avoid delay in processing and/or review. The Animal Research pages of the ORSP website can be found at www.olemiss.edu/depts/research/compliance/animal/index.html.
13. CONTACT THE IACUC OFFICE. IACUC Office staff want to help and answer your questions.
- E-mail them at askiacuc@research.olemiss.edu,
- Call them at 915-7482, or
- Visit them at 100 Barr Hall.
Submitting a Personnel Change Amendment to an Animal Study Protocol
1. ENSURE PERSONNEL ADDED TO A PROTOCOL GET THE REQUIRED TRAINING; SUBMIT THEIR HEALTH FORMS, AND READ ASTHMA AND ALLERGY INFO. A signed memorandum must be submitted to the Animal Facility Supervisor verifying that you have read the Asthma and Allergy Information and are aware of health risks. Amendment approval will be delayed until these are done.
2. NOTIFY VIVARIUM SUPERVISOR WHEN PERSONNEL/STUDENTS NO LONGER NEED ACCESS TO THE VIVARIUM. Personnel who are no longer working on an animal study protocol should be deleted from the protocol via a protocol amendment.
Submitting Animal Orders
1. CHECK WITH VIVARIUM SUPERVISOR ABOUT SPACE, CAGING, FEED AND BEDDING AVAILABILITY BEFORE ORDERING ANIMALS. If ordering a large number of animals or a species that has not been housed in a while, contact the Vivarium Supervisor (X5324 or pboltonl@olemiss.edu) to make arrangements and before placing order.
2. PLACE ANIMAL ORDERS BEFORE NOON ON WEDNESDAYS. Bring animal orders to Supervisor’s Office (NCNPR B103) before noon on Wednesdays.
Maintaining Animal Logs (i.e., surgery weight logs, use and disposition logs)
This is a regulatory requirement. Animal facility inspectors will cite PIs if animal logs are not maintained.