BACKGROUND

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide, NRC 2011) requires that all personnel involved with the care and use of animals be adequately educated and trained, and that training programs include continuing education. The Guide also requires that this training be documented. This policy specifies the training requirements that are in place at Wayne State University to meet applicable regulations and guidelines as it pertains to animal use. All personnel (e.g., principal investigators, co-investigators, research technicians, postdoctoral researchers, and students) working with live animals must complete basic training requirements as detailed below.

IACUC Policy

Animal Facilities are defined as the vivaria or a laboratory space where active animal use is present.

Observers/Visitors are defined as individuals who are present to observe the animals or animal area only. These individuals are not allowed to touch animals. These individuals are not required to be listed on the protocol and do not require training. All visitors/observers (e.g., personnel not listed on an IACUC protocol) must be escorted by either Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR), Research Integrity, or key animal research personnel, at all times. All visitors/observers to Wayne State's animal facilities must fill out the Visitor Request form and receive permission from the IACUC and a DLAR veterinarian prior to entering Wayne State University animal facilities. Potential visitors to the john D. Dingell VA Medical Center (JDVAMC) animal facilities must contact the JDVAMC Research Office. Special exemptions for visitors working with animals may be considered by the IACUC for visiting scientists (or similar) coming to demonstrate techniques. A formal request for this exemption must be submitted to the IACUC Office.

Personnel are defined as individuals participating in a research or training activity with live animals (e.g., handling live animals). Personnel are required to be listed on the protocol. They may not work with live animals until the protocol or amendment is approved and online training is complete. They may not work independently with live animals until all training requirements are met.

Any minor, defined as a person under the age of 18, must comply with the Minors in Research Laboratories and Animal Facilities Policy while in a research lab or animal facility. They must also comply with all training requirements applicable to their role.

Training Required Prior to Protocol Submission/Approval

Completion of the following training is required for all personnel prior to protocol or personnel amendment submission/approval and prior to handling live animals. Personnel are required to have a Wayne State access ID.

Protocol PIs are required to ensure that all new personnel are supervised until fully trained. In-person, hands-on training by the DLAR Training Program is required prior to independent work and recommended prior to any animal work. 

Training Required Prior to Access to DLAR Facilities

Completion of the following training is required for personnel prior to access to the DLAR facilities. Personnel must work under direct supervision prior to completion of required training below; however, they cannot perform surgery. Some of the following training is dependent on job/protocol duties.

Approved: January 2008

Revisions Approved: August 2008, December 2012, August 2013, November 2014, June 2015, June 2019, September 2023, May 2024