The University of New Mexico & The Office of Animal Research, Ethics, Care, and Compliance present New Researcher Training A learning module developed by OARECC

Introduction This module was developed for all persons who wish to do animal research at the University of New Mexico. This module was developed for all persons who wish to do animal research at the University of New Mexico.

According to Regulations, Animal Research is: Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Public Health Service (PHS), and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), the use of live or dead animals for Research, Testing, Experimentation, or Exhibition purposes. Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Public Health Service (PHS), and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), the use of live or dead animals for Research, Testing, Experimentation, or Exhibition purposes. This includes all animals and animal tissues (including blood). This includes all animals and animal tissues (including blood).

According to Regulations, The University of New Mexico must be registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and OLAW. The University of New Mexico must be registered with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and OLAW. To maintain our registration, UNM is subject to unannounced visits by the USDA, and must submit regular reports of activity to the USDA and OLAW. To maintain our registration, UNM is subject to unannounced visits by the USDA, and must submit regular reports of activity to the USDA and OLAW.

Letters of Assurance Under law, the University must have a Letter of Assurance on file with the PHS and OLAW that outlines our animal research program. Under law, the University must have a Letter of Assurance on file with the PHS and OLAW that outlines our animal research program. Any deviations from this letter, the AWA, or PHS policy must be reported to OLAW and the USDA promptly. Any deviations from this letter, the AWA, or PHS policy must be reported to OLAW and the USDA promptly.

Research Protocols Any use of animals or animal tissues can only be done under an APPROVED protocol. Any use of animals or animal tissues can only be done under an APPROVED protocol. All protocols must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). All protocols must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Research Protocols A Tissue Protocol is required for all research or testing that involves any animal tissues (blood is considered a tissue). A Tissue Protocol is required for all research or testing that involves any animal tissues (blood is considered a tissue). A Teaching Protocol is required for any class that utilizes animal tissues (like cow’s eyes from a slaughter house). A Teaching Protocol is required for any class that utilizes animal tissues (like cow’s eyes from a slaughter house). A Field Protocol is required for all research that involves animals in the wild (even simple observation. A Field Protocol is required for all research that involves animals in the wild (even simple observation. A Laboratory Animal Research Protocol is required for all research done in a lab at UNM. A Laboratory Animal Research Protocol is required for all research done in a lab at UNM.

Research Protocols A Breeding Protocol is also available for persons who wish to breed rodents to test their progeny. A Breeding Protocol is also available for persons who wish to breed rodents to test their progeny. A Breeding protocol should be used in conjunction with a Laboratory Animal Research Protocol. A Breeding protocol should be used in conjunction with a Laboratory Animal Research Protocol.

Protocol Requirements All protocols require specific information as outlined by the Animal Welfare Regulations and OLAW. All protocols require specific information as outlined by the Animal Welfare Regulations and OLAW. The IACUC must review all protocols for this information. The IACUC must review all protocols for this information.

Requirements, What Every Protocol Must Consider: Rationale and purpose of the proposed use of animals (animal tissues). Rationale and purpose of the proposed use of animals (animal tissues). Justification of the species and number of animals requested (and justified statistically whenever possible). Justification of the species and number of animals requested (and justified statistically whenever possible). Availability or appropriateness of the use of less-invasive procedures, other species, isolated organ preparation, cell or tissue culture, or computer simulations. Availability or appropriateness of the use of less-invasive procedures, other species, isolated organ preparation, cell or tissue culture, or computer simulations.

Requirements, What Every Protocol Must Consider: Adequacy of training and experience of personnel involved in the procedures used. Adequacy of training and experience of personnel involved in the procedures used. Unusual housing and husbandry requirements. Unusual housing and husbandry requirements. Appropriate sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia. Appropriate sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia. Unnecessary duplication of experiments. Unnecessary duplication of experiments.

Requirements, What Every Protocol Must Consider: Conduct of multiple major operative procedures. Conduct of multiple major operative procedures. Criteria and process for timely intervention, removal of animals from a study, or euthanasia if painful or stressful outcomes are anticipated. Criteria and process for timely intervention, removal of animals from a study, or euthanasia if painful or stressful outcomes are anticipated. Post-procedural care. Post-procedural care. Method of euthanasia or disposal of animal. Method of euthanasia or disposal of animal. And safety of working environment for personnel. And safety of working environment for personnel.

No person may work with animals or animal tissues unless they are listed on an approved protocol. No person may work with animals or animal tissues unless they are listed on an approved protocol. All persons must read and understand all protocols they are listed on. All persons must read and understand all protocols they are listed on. All persons must know the procedures that are listed on the protocol. All persons must know the procedures that are listed on the protocol. No person may perform any procedures on animals unless those procedures are specifically detailed in the approved protocol. No person may perform any procedures on animals unless those procedures are specifically detailed in the approved protocol. Personnel Responsibilities: Protocol Review and Understanding:

Submit an amendment and await its approval before you do ANY procedures not listed in your protocol. Submit an amendment and await its approval before you do ANY procedures not listed in your protocol. Update your personnel roster on your protocol by submitting a memo to the OACC whenever personnel change. Update your personnel roster on your protocol by submitting a memo to the OACC whenever personnel change. Make sure your personnel have read and understand your approved protocol. Make sure your personnel have read and understand your approved protocol. Investigator Responsibilities: For Approved Protocols:

Principle 8 of the U.S. Government Principles Investigators and other personnel shall be appropriately qualified and experienced for conducting procedures on living animals. In- service training shall include the proper and humane care and use of laboratory animals. Investigators and other personnel shall be appropriately qualified and experienced for conducting procedures on living animals. In- service training shall include the proper and humane care and use of laboratory animals. Personnel conducting procedures on the species being maintained or studied will be appropriately qualified and trained in those procedures. Personnel conducting procedures on the species being maintained or studied will be appropriately qualified and trained in those procedures.

Personnel Tools Tools that you have access to from our website: Tools that you have access to from our website:  The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals  The OLAW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidebook  Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research  The Animal Welfare Act  USDA Animal Care Policies  PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

This Concludes Module 1B – New Researcher Training For more information, or if you have questions, please contact or For more information, or if you have questions, please contact or