Update for Animal Studies with Department of Defense (DoD) Funding – April 2026
The federal Animal Care and Use Review Office (ACURO) (external link) announced that DoD-funded activities can no longer be included on the same animal protocol as research supported by other funding sources (e.g., the National Institutes of Health [NIH], National Science Foundation [NSF], other federal or private grants, internal/pilot funds).
This change applies to new and three-year renewal protocols submitted to UMaine and subsequently ACURO on or after January 1, 2026.
For new Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols with DoD funding submitted after January 1, 2026, submit them separately from protocols funded by other sources.
A new webpage on the UMaine IACUC website has been created as a permanent resource for this information.