Welcome to UVA!
If you will be using animals for research, testing, or teaching at UVA,
you’ve come to the right place to start. The IACUC Office, or ACUC Office as it’s called at
UVA, is always here to help you find your way through the maze. Please feel free to contact us
at any time at 434-924-0405 or acuc@virginia.edu
Here’s a brief outline of the requirements you’ll need to complete in order to conduct animal
work. Some of these will vary slightly depending on whether you are the Principal Investigator
of a project or if you are an animal handler working on your Director’s project. They may also
vary depending on the type of work being conducted.
- Obtain a UVA computing ID and password, NetBadge ID and 2-Step Duo authentication.
- Prepare an animal use protocol.
- Obtain approval for the use of biohazardous materials or radioisotopes, if used in your
research. - Complete the necessary training requirements
- Complete the occupational health assessment for animal handlers.
UVA COMPUTING ID / NETBADGE / DUO AUTHENTICATION
- Contact Information Technology Services (ITS) to obtain your UVA computing ID,
NetBadge and 2-Step Login Duo authentication. These will be required for protocols,
training, occupational health assessment forms, animal ordering, access to vivaria, etc. - Phone: Call 4-HELP (434-924-4357)
- https://virginia.service-now.com/its/
ANIMAL USE PROTOCOLS
- Federal regulations stipulate that no one may use or order animals without being on an
IACUC approved protocol. - The protocol system is web-based and requires NetBadge ID and password and Duo
authentication to enter. - The University of Virginia permits only appointed faculty members to be the Principal
Investigator (PI) on a protocol. Graduate students and medical residents may be
sponsored by a faculty member, but the faculty member will be the PI of record on the
protocol. - If you will be doing animal work under the direction of a PI, you will need to be listed as
an animal handler on their protocol. You must complete all requirements and become an
approved animal handler before you can start working with animals. - The ACUC meets once a month to review protocols. The submission deadlines are
approximately 2 weeks before the meeting for existing protocols and a minimum of 3
weeks before the meeting for new protocols. Be aware of the submission deadlines.
ACUC meeting and protocol submission deadline calendar can be found online. - All new protocols are required to have pre-review. Contact the ACUC Office
acuc@virginia.edu or 924-0405 to arrange for pre-review. You can access the
Instructions for creating a new protocol - The ACUC protocol submission website is:
https://researchcompliance.web.virginia.edu/acuc/
OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
- If you plan to use biohazardous materials or radioisotopes in live animals, you will need
to get approval from the appropriate compliance committee before the ACUC will
approve your animal use protocol. - For more information about using biohazards at UVA, see the Institutional Biosafety
Committee website: https://ehs.virginia.edu/Biosafety-ABSL.html for further details. - For more information about using radioisotopes at UVA, see the EHS Radiation Safety
website https://ehs.virginia.edu/Radiation-Safety.html for further details.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
- You will need to complete training requirements. You may not use animals until you are
on an approved protocol and you can’t be on an approved protocol without completing
your training requirements. - To determine the training you will be required to take, see the Animal Research training page.
- Everyone is required to take the Orientation Seminar, Parts I and II for New Animal
Handlers at UVA. - Other required training depends on the species utilized and the procedures you will
performing. - Questions about training requirements and class registration may be referred to Angie
Gamble at adr8s@virginia.edu or 434-924-5752.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- All University faculty, staff and students who have contact with vertebrate animals are
required to participate in the occupational health program. - An initial face-to-face visit with a health care professional is required. For most
individuals, a face-to-face visit will only be required the first time, with an annual online
health assessment required in the intervening two years and then a telemed or telephone
visit every three years. Certain categories of individuals at increased risk or with
prolonged exposures may be required to complete a face-to-face assessment more
frequently. - You must be listed as an animal handler on a protocol before you can have your health
care assessment. This is because your specific risk profile (i.e., species exposure,
biohazard risk) from the protocol is provided on the form you download and take with
you to your appointment. - Employees and students report to UVA WorkMed for their health assessments.
- Additional information about the Occupational Health Program for animal handlers can be
found on the ACUC website
OTHER
- Animals from Other Institutions: If you plan on bringing or transferring animals from
your home institution, please contact the Director of Comparative Medicine, Dr. Raphael
Malbrue (yyb6wq@virginia.edu) or 434-924-5058, well before your arrival so that proper
arrangements can be made. It is likely that your animals will have to spend several weeks
in quarantine, so expect delays before you can begin research. - Access to Vivarium: This is handled by the Center for Comparative Medicine
https://research.virginia.edu/center-comparative-medicine Please contact
ccm@virginia.edu or 434-243-9390. You will be required to be an approved animal
handler on an approved protocol before you will be permitted access to the vivarium.
Vivarium supervisors will also require you to be trained in specific procedures for their
facility. - Animal Ordering: This is also handled by the Center for Comparative Medicine. You
must be an approved animal handler on an approved protocol before you can order
animals. Animal ordering is done online with a web-based system that is linked to the
ACUC protocol system. https://researchcompliance.web.virginia.edu/ccm/ccmframes.cfm - Contact ccm@virginia.edu or 434-243-9390.
- Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the entire ACUC website. Lots of good
information is provided that we haven’t covered in this brief introduction and we want your
transition to be as smooth as possible. If you have any questions, please contact the ACUC
Office at acuc@virginia.edu or 434-924-0405.