The use of animals in research, testing and teaching is subject to a multitude of laws, policies, regulations and standards.
Requirements for Working with Animals
The Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service policy require all research personnel be appropriately trained in animal care and use. Any person who will handle, manipulate or perform procedures on live vertebrate animals (whether in the laboratory or in the field) must complete a multi-step process. Detailed requirements including instructions to access courses are found in the IACUC Required Training Guide. Follow the steps below.
Step 1. Enroll in the HealthPoint Occupational Health Program
Before working with animals, each researcher or support staff must enroll in the HealthPoint Occupational Health Program (OHP) before protocols can be considered.
- Initial Enrollment: Complete the OHP Health Assessment Questionnaire from the link below and submit it directly to HealthPoint OHP.
- Reoccurring Enrollment: An OHP Update Questionnaire must be submitted prior to the expiration date or when health status or species contacted changes. The expiration date will be communicated upon enrollment and is also available via the protocol review system. Find the Update Questionnaire at the link below.
Information provided to HealthPoint OHP is protected from unauthorized or indiscriminate release of personal health information and medical records are maintained in a confidential manner, separate from personnel files. More information about HealthPoint OHP, including forms, location and hours of service, is available on their website.
NOTE: eProtocol IACUC is updated with HealthPoint OHP enrollment data twice a day at 6:00am and 6:00pm. It may take up to 48 hours for the eProtocol Training History to reflect HealthPoint OHP enrollment.
For prompt processing of OHP enrollment, forms should be submitted via fax at 512-471-2666 or delivered in person to the OHP clinic located inside the Student Services Building (SSB), 3rd floor, Suite 3.202.
Use of campus mail may delay receipt of forms by up to one week.
Step 2. Complete Web-Based Training
Any relevant web-based trainings must be completed before protocol approval. Those include:
- AALAS 3198 Orientation
- Species and role specific module(s), as specified in the IACUC Required Training Guide
For a list of required trainings and details on registration, visit the IACUC Required Training Guide.
Step 3. Complete In-Person Training at the Animal Resources Center
After protocol approval, most research personnel working with animals must complete in person training at the Animal Resources Center. Personnel required to take in-person courses must be registered for the course(s) prior to protocol approval. Courses such as rodent biomethodology and aseptic technique training may be required while other courses that are available are optional. Once a person is approved on an IACUC protocol, they can begin handling animals prior to taking any required in-person courses. The IACUC does not prohibit approved personnel from working with animals or from receiving training within the lab, as long as they are supervised by another lab member until they are considered competent.
Register for IACUC-required trainings by going to Research TRACKS and searching for the corresponding course number. Requirements and additional instructions can be found in the IACUC Required Training Guide.
Step 4. Complete Lab-Specific Training and Required Training Documentation
Once approved on an IACUC protocol, researchers must complete lab-specific procedure training and finish the required training documentation.
Research personnel involved in animal research must have the necessary knowledge and expertise in protocol procedures as well as species to be used on the protocol. The IACUC has provided a customizable form that is required to be completed by laboratory personnel and their trainer to document and ensure training in lab-specific animal procedures. This form can be found on the Forms & Documents page.
Additional Hands-on Training
Additional, but not required, hands-on training is available and free of charge to all UT researchers using animals on an approved protocol. Please fill out a training request form to request these.
Some examples of on-demand training courses offered are:
- For Rodents: Compound administration (Multiple routes of injection and Oral gavage), Blood collection, Tail biopsy, Ear punch, Sexing/weaning, Euthanasia methods
- All Species: Anesthesia administration, monitoring, and recovery, Aseptic technique (including scrubbing, gowning, gloving), Suturing
If you have questions about hands-on training or want to discuss your specific training needs, please contact the ARC Vet Team at vetstaff@austin.utexas.edu.
Resources
Useful Resources for Working with Research Animals
- Occupational Health Program (OHP): Vaccinations, work injury, health risk, assessment, etc.
- Environmental Health and Safety (EHS): Lab safety information
- Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC): Does your project require IBC approval?
Investigator’s Guide to Media Requests
OVPR strongly encourages investigators to reach out to the Research Communications team PRIOR TO responding to any inquiry from the media. It may be appropriate for an OVPR representative to speak to the media on behalf of an investigator, or to provide some media training prior to an interview. Remember, the Research Communications team is here to offer guidance and support on the most effective ways to share and promote the research being done at UT.
The Media Guide provides a toolkit for investigators at UT who are directly contacted by the media or members of the public requesting information about their use of animals in research. Note: This is an internal document created to assist Principal Investigators at UT Austin. It must not be shared with people outside of the university.
As safety is a top priority, should an investigator be threatened or perceives an immediate threat, the investigator should immediately call 9-1-1 or the UT Police Department main line (512-471-4441), respectively.
As a reminder, formal open records requests must be made through the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs. This would include requests for USDA forms or animal records. The requestor must send any record requests directly to the Open Records Coordinator, whose contact information can be found in Section 2 of this plan. As an investigator, you are not obliged to provide this information unless the Open Records Coordinator determines it is necessary.
Investigator’s Guide to Requests from the Media or Public (toolkit) (PDF)
Section 4 – Description of Research Worksheet (fillable PDF)