Resources for Researchers
Animal Care and Use Program
Submission Deadlines for Summer and Early Fall 2026 Projects
New protocols and major modifications are not reviewed during the summer. All materials for new protocols and major modifications must be received by the dates below to be on track for IACUC review before the end of spring quarter. We recommend requesting a Veterinary Consult if you have questions before submission.
New Protocols: March 31
- Major Modifications
- Includes a new facility/location or a new species: March 31
- No new facility/location or new species: April 13
- Minor Modifications: Accepted, reviewed, and determinations issued year-round by ACAUP staff.
Read more about review timelines including what to expect during summer and university breaks.
Veterinary Consults Available for Projects in Development
PIs are encouraged to request a virtual consultation with the Attending Veterinarian (AV) early in their protocol or major modification development.
We strongly recommend that researchers reach out early to share upcoming animal research/teaching ideas that are in the ideation stage (like when you are applying for funding). A brief conversation with us about your ideas and plans can help us provide specific initial guidance for a well written and complete protocol that moves through the IACUC review process efficiently. Note: These consultations will not take the place of pre-review (steps 3-5 of the protocol and major modification review process). Appointments must be scheduled in advance and are not available the same day as the request is sent.
Preparing Materials for Submission
We strongly recommend that researchers review the following resources carefully before submitting materials.
New Protocols and Triennial Review/de novo Protocols
Modifications
The titles of the guidance sections below correspond roughly with section order and titles in the protocol and modification forms.
Personnel Roles and Responsibilities
The Principal Investigator (PI) makes sure a protocol application is complete and ready for submission. The PI should have the expertise and experience to carry out the proposed study and must agree to conduct all protocol activities ethically, including overseeing other research members, if applicable. For student PIs, a faculty adviser should be actively involved in developing and overseeing the research activities.
Depending on the size of a research team, the PI often carries out the following duties:
- Submitting Modification Requests to make changes to approved protocol(s)
- Storing and retaining data according to the approved protocol
- Responding promptly to ACAUP Post-Approval Monitoring status checks
A study has only one PI, but other co-investigators can assume leadership roles. They might be equally involved in study development and research activities, or the investigators might divide responsibilities among themselves.
Sometimes a form creator prepares and submits protocol materials on behalf of the PI. This person might be a study team member directly involved in study activities or someone who assists with administrative duties. But the PI remains responsible for making sure the protocol submission is complete and accurate and for all study activities.
Key personnel interact directly with animal subjects. All key personnel must complete the required CITI training.
(Individuals who will not work directly with animal subjects are not considered key personnel and do not need to complete CITI training.)
The WWU ACAUP supports undergraduate and graduate students as PIs for animal subject research studies, provided that they have the appropriate knowledge and expertise to carry out the project. Read the guidance for Student Researchers for more information. Also, read Student Research to understand the role your faculty advisor should play in assisting you with your research project.
Faculty Advisors of student PIs must be WWU faculty or staff members with enough time, attention, and knowledge to oversee the study and guide the student(s) in carrying out the protocol. For more information, read the guidance on Student Research.
Relevance of Animal Research
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations require principal investigators (PIs)/scientists to consider alternatives to procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to the animals. They must provide a written narrative to their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) that describes the methods and sources (e.g. the Animal Welfare Information Center) used to determine that alternatives were not available (9 C.F.R. § 2.31 (d)(ii)(2022)). Additionally, PIs/scientists must also provide written assurance that their activities do not unnecessarily duplicate previous experiments (9 C.F.R. § 2.31 (d)(iii)(2022)).
A thorough literature search can identify information to meet these requirements and provide PIs with current research related to their area of study.
The 3Rs were first defined by Russell and Burch in their book The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. The global research community has adopted updated definitions in line with common scientific parlance to highlight the importance of the 3Rs to modern research practices. Read more about the 3Rs.
- Replacement
- Basic: Avoiding or replacing the use of animals in areas where they otherwise would have been used.
- Updated: Accelerating the development and use of predictive and robust models and tools, based on the latest science and technologies, to replace the use of animals in addressing important research questions.
- Reduction
- Basic: Minimizing the number of animals used consistent with scientific aims.
- Updated: Appropriately designed and analyzed animal experiments that are robust and reproducible and add to the knowledge base.
- Refinement
- Basic: Minimizing the pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that research animals might experience.
- Updated: Advancing laboratory animal welfare by exploiting the latest in vivo technologies to minimize pain, suffering and distress and improving understanding of the impact of welfare on scientific outcomes.
3Rs Resource Library (hosted by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research)
- Animal Welfare Institute (AWI): Resources for laboratory animal care
- Animal Welfare Information Center: Provides information pertinent to employee training, data that could prevent unintended duplication of animal experimentation, and can improve methods of animal experimentation including the reduction or replacement of animal use and minimize pain and distress to animals.
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT): Provides information on alternatives for the use of animals in product safety testing.
- Foundation for Biomedical Research: Provides information on the use of animals for scientific research, testing, and education.
- National Institute of Health: Maintains database of published materials and referenced words on veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary medicine, especially those closely related to human health and health research.
USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) provides guidance on building and conducting a 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement of animal use) alternatives literature search. Their Literature Searching page details instructions for finding 3Rs alternatives along with other resources to assist individuals working with animals in research, testing, and teaching.
Need assistance conducting an alternatives literature search? AWIC can help. Request a literature search (free).
Other databases to consider
Fish
- Guidelines for use of fish in research (2014 pdf)
- Guidelines for use of fish in research (ASIH website)
- Stages of embryonic development of the zebrafish
- The Zebrafish Book
- Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC)
- The Zebrafish Information Network
- Annotated zebrafish development video
- Fish embryonic development video
Amphibians & reptiles
Birds
Procedure Guidance
- American Veterinary Medical (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals
- Guidelines for use of fish in research (ASIH website)
- Guidelines for research on amphibians and reptiles
Personnel Training
Animal welfare and protections training documentation must be on file prior to any interaction or intervention with live vertebrate animals in research or teaching settings. Additional laboratory specific training may also be required.
New protocol submissions and personnel modifications must include the appropriate CITI training completion certificate(s) to be processed for review.
Occupational Health and Safety
Per the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (pg 17), Animal Care and Use Programs must establish and maintain an occupational health and safety program that covers all personnel that have contact with animals. Depending on the facility, research activities, hazards, and animal species involved, the program may not affect all personnel equally.
Facilities for Animal Care and Use
Space in the animal facilities is limited, so it is essential that investigators work closely with the specific facility management to ensure that adequate space for housing and procedures is available prior to submitting any protocols or modifications to the ACAUP and obtaining animals. Use of any space for animal research is contingent on a facility inspection and having an IACUC approved protocol (or approved modification). See FAQ below for suggested timeline and steps.
Inspections
All spaces used for animal care and research must be inspected by IACUC prior to the committee issuing a determination (step 8 of IACUC Review).
Review Preparing for IACUC Facility Inspections and use the linked checklist to prepare in advance for the committee's visit to your space(s). Don't forget to post lab contact sheets. A template is included below.
Frequently Asked Questions about Facilities
No. An IACUC protocol or modification approval memo does not mean that a proposed animal research space has been officially allocated.
- Research requiring animal use identified by PI and informs department chair. Student researchers: Your faculty advisor will likely be the one to talk to the department chair.
- PI (and their appropriate supervisor) identify potentially suitable space for animal research.
- PI (and their appropriate supervisor, if applicable) meet with “owner” or manager of proposed animal research space to discuss potential use of identified space.
- Preliminary Space Use Agreement: Identified space “owner” agrees that said space is available for the proposed research. Documentation of this agreement is strongly encouraged but is not required by the ACAUP as part of the submission materials for protocols or modifications (but may be requested).
- PI submits protocol submission form or modification form that includes space information in the appropriate section.
- If you are joining an existing animal research space such as the shared vivarium, please include a copy of the current SOPs for the facility that you used while writing your proposed protocol/modification. This should be attached as a separate document from the protocol/modification form when you submit your materials.
- The IACUC reviews submitted materials (see IACUC Review Process).
- Per step 8 of protocol review and step 6 of the major modification processes, the IACUC will conduct an initial facility inspection to ensure that the space meets requirements outlined in the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals by using the semi-annual facility inspection checklist. Read more about facility inspection (includes a sample inspection checklist).
We suggest speaking with your department or unit leadership (e.g. department chair or program director) to identify possible research spaces. Communication and planning with space resource managers should take place before any protocol materials are submitted to the ACAUP.
Questions about proposed vivarium use should be directed to the Behavioral Neuroscience Program director before any protocol materials are submitted to the ACAUP.
Keep in mind:
“Quality animal management and human comfort and health protection require separation of animal facilities from personnel areas, such as offices and conference rooms. Separation can be accomplished by having the animal quarters in a separate building, wing, floor, or room. Careful planning should make it possible to place animal housing areas next to or near research laboratories but separated from them by barriers, such as entry locks, corridors, or floors. Additional considerations include the impact of noise and vibration generated from within the facility and from surrounding areas of the building, as well as security of the facility.
Animals should be housed in facilities dedicated to or assigned for that purpose, not in laboratories merely for convenience. If animals must be maintained in a laboratory to satisfy the scientific aims of a protocol, that space should be appropriate to house and care for the animals and its use limited to the period during which it is required. If needed, measures should be taken to minimize occupational hazards related to exposure to animals both in the research area and during transport to and from the area.”- Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals pg 134
The IACUC is required to inspect all animal housing areas (where animals are housed for more than 12 hours) and surgical areas at least once every six-months. Before a protocol or modification can be approved, the space(s) listed in the protocol must undergo an initial facility inspection. Read more about facility inspection (includes a sample inspection checklist).
For further animal facility guidance see Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals pages 19-20, Chapter 3 “Environment, Housing, and Management,” and Chapter 5 “Physical Plant.”
Review Preparing for IACUC Facility Inspections and use the linked checklist to prepare in advance for the committee's visit to your space(s).
Current Review Timelines
Visit the review timelines page for details about current estimated review times, information about review during the summer and university breaks, and tips for efficient review.
Your specific protocol or modification review timeline can vary depending on the completeness, clarity of the submission, and complexity of the procedures.
Additional Resource Links
"The Guide"
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Veterinary Guidance
- American Veterinary Medical (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals
- Guidelines for use of fish in research (ASIH website)
- Guidelines for research on amphibians and reptiles