Do I Need IACUC Approval?

Guidelines To Determine When IACUC Approval Is Required

Federal animal welfare regulations and U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Policy require that the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) review and approve activities involving the use of live vertebrate animals in research, teaching, experimentation, biological testing, or related purposes.

If you are unsure if your proposed activity requires IACUC review, please submit an email to umric@maine.edu describing the activity and we will determine if review is required.

The following activities with live vertebrate animals require IACUC review:

  • Research/teaching/testing activities that are conducted with animals owned or leased by UMaine
  • Research/teaching/testing activities conducted on property owned or managed by UMaine
  • Research/teaching/testing activities conducted by UMaine faculty, staff and students
  • Research/teaching/testing activities conducted using funds administered through UMaine
  • Field research/teaching/testing activities that include capture, handling, surgery, etc.
  • Activities that use bait to attract an animal for research/teaching/testing purposes, including direct observation and photography
  • Privately owned animals recruited for participation in a UMaine research/teaching/testing activity
  • Cadavers or tissues acquired from animals specifically euthanized for the research/teaching/testing activity

A Note on Collaborations

Research, teaching, or testing collaborations with another institution or organization, including commercial organizations, must be approved by an IACUC. When a protocol has been reviewed and approved by another institution’s IACUC, the UMaine IACUC may not require additional approval. However, the PI must inform the UMaine IACUC of the activity and provide the approved protocol and approval notice from the collaborating institution for review. 

The following activities do not require IACUC approval:

  • Research and teaching activities using cadavers or tissues from dead animals, such as slaughterhouse materials or purchased tissues from an approved vendor
  • Veterinary clinical care that involves only standard veterinary or emergency procedures necessary to ensure animal welfare
  • Any activity involving invertebrate species
  • Unobtrusive observational studies
  • Non-research, non-teaching, or non-testing activities involving privately owned animals, where the activity is not an official UMaine activity
  • Research, teaching, and/or testing involving embryonated eggs prior to hatching. Please also see Guidelines for Use of Zebrafish in Research, Teaching, and Testing (Word).

References