The NDSU IACUC requires all personnel using live vertebrate animals for teaching, testing or research to complete training on animal welfare. Documentation of training is verified when a protocol or annual update form is submitted for review.

This requirement applies to all NDSU personnel who plan to work with animals (e.g., principal investigators, co-investigators, barn and animal care personnel, research team members, assistants, extension agents, or outside collaborators).

To complete training requirements:

1. Complete the series of online modules most relevant to your research.  Online training is offered through the CITI Program. (See CITI Online Training below for more details).  Training must be renewed every three years. 
   • Working with laboratory mice or rats?  Complete the Rodent Research Course.
   • Working with live vertebrate (non-wildlife, non-rodent) animals?  Complete the Working with the IACUC Course.
   • Working with live vertebrate wildlife animals?  Complete the Wildlife Research Course.
   • Working in extension and may use live vertebrate animals for demonstration/exhibition? Complete the Extension Agents course.
2. Complete the CITI Online Species-Specific courses for the species you will be working with.
3. Complete in-person species specific or procedural training conducted by the NDSU Attending Veterinarian (AV) at 701.231.7830 or delegated trainer.
4. Document training completed on the Individual Training Log.

Species and/or procedures specific training is required to ensure proficiency in species-specific or protocol related procedures.

Submitted protocols must include a current training log for each individual listed on the protocol. Training for the procedures described in the protocol must be appropriately and accurately documented in the Training Log.  Hands on species/procedures-specific training is provided by the Attending Veterinarian or by qualified individuals designated by the IACUC (e.g. faculty, PIs, facility managers, lead technicians).

Individuals must also complete an online species-specific training. The species-specific training is provided via the CITI Program.

• The CITI Online Training includes modules for: mice, cattle, swine, frogs, toads, amphibians, fish, rats, hamsters, horses, gerbils, guinea pigs, reptiles, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, and genetically-modified mice.

Non-NDSU collaborators of NDSU research teams or members of one of our partnering institutions may complete the CITI training through NDSU.  Please follow the instructions below when setting up your CITI account.

In accordance with IACUC Guiding Principles¹, individuals who have substantial contact with animals and/or are listed on an IACUC protocol in any capacity, must participate in the NDSU Occupational Health and Safety Program administered by the Public Health and Safety Office.

Refusal to enroll in this program may be further evaluated by the IACUC in conjunction with the Institutional Official for further action, up to and including termination of animal use privileges.¹

Participants must complete each of the following steps:

1. Supervisor completes the Hazard and Risk Assessment Form
2. The participating individual completes all sections of the Health Assessment Form
3. Participating individual schedules an appointment with the Safety Office by calling (701) 231-6740

Steps 2-3 must be completed within 30 days of completing the Hazard and Risk Form.  Failure to do so requires the individual to start the process over. There are no reminders.

OHS Guidance

Participation in the NDSU Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Program is required before:

1. Beginning working with animals
2. Beginning the IACUC protocol approval process.

Things to Know:

• Participation can take up to 20 days.
• The OHS Health Assessment review may result in vaccination recommendations which will extend the time it takes to complete participation.
• Neither the Public Health and Safety Office nor the IACUC office can or will waive any recommended vaccinations.

To avoid delays:

• Complete your Health Assessment form accurately and completely.
• Obtain your Immunization Records.
  • The OHS Program does not have access to your personnel file or medical record.
  • If immunizations are not up-to-date, visit one of the following to have them updated.
    • Primary Care Provider
    • Student Health Service (NDSU Students)
    • Fargo Cass Public Health

1. Guiding Principle - Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Animals

Here’s how to make sure you have everything you need to make the process as smooth as possible beginning to end.  Complete this process prior to beginning work on your research project.

Make sure you know the protocol number(s) for your project(s) and that you are an official member of the research team.  It is required that your PI / advisor add you to a protocol and your addition be approved prior to you completing any work on the project.   

You may not collect any new data which you intend to include as part of your thesis / dissertations until:

1. You have completed all necessary CITI training.
2. The research protocol has been reviewed and approved by the NDSU IACUC Committee and you are listed as part of the research team on this approved protocol.
3. You complete an individual training log.
4. You complete the OHS process. This process can take up to 20 days.

If approval has not been received, or you are not listed as part of the research team you are at risk of not being granted your degree.

To be added to a protocol involving animals:

• Complete your Novelution profile.  You will receive an email from the Novelution system when your PI / advisor adds you to the protocol, if you do not already have a Novelution profile. This is where all your training documentation is stored, so it’s important to complete this step first.
• Notify the IACUC office that you've been added to a protocol but do not already have a Novelution profile.
• Complete the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) process.

• Complete a training log reflecting you are trained and proficient in all responsibilities listed for you in the Responsibilities portion of the Research Team Panel of the protocol.

• Complete general CITI training:
  • If working with laboratory mice or rats: 
    • Complete the Rodent Research Course.
  • If working with live vertebrates (non-wildlife, non-rodent):
    •   Complete the Working with the IACUC Course.
  • If working with live vertebrate wildlife animals: 
    • Complete the Wildlife Research Course.
  • If working in extension and may use live vertebrate animals for demonstration/exhibition:
    • Complete the Extension Agents course.

• Complete species-specific CITI training, ex.:
  • Working with Mice in Research Settings

• • Working with Genetically Modified Mice in Research Settings

• • Working with Amphibians in Research Settings

• • Working with Cattle in Agricultural Research Settings

• • Working with Sheep and Goats in Research Settings
  • Etc. (these are only a few examples).

It is the responsibility of the student to make sure they are an official member of the research team for any project on which they intend to work.  You can check your research team status by checking or searching your email for the official approval letter.  Make sure your name appears as part of the research team on the attached letter.  IACUC approval emails will come with a subject line that reads:  IACUC202XXXXX Approval

Another way to check your research team status is to search for the protocol in Novelution. 

Once you’re logged in, navigate to Search IACUC Protocols under the IACUC tab.

If you know the protocol number, you can enter it into the Protocol # or Title box, or you can search by your name in Personnel, or your PI’s name in PI/Co-PI.  If you are part of the research team, the protocol(s) will appear in the search results.  If you are not, it will not appear.

To obtain an approval letter for a protocol not in Novelution, email the IACUC office ndsu.iacuc@ndsu.edu.  You will need to include the name of the PI and the protocol number.  A search for the approval letter cannot happen without this information.

If at any point while working on a research project you feel there has been a deviation from the protocol or an adverse event needs to be reported, please feel free to reach out to the IACUC Office.  If you don’t feel comfortable talking with your PI about the situation, please reach out.  We will handle the situation on your behalf and if you prefer, your anonymity will be protected. We encourage you to speak up if you feel something isn’t happening the way it should.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

NDSU Novelution Login:

The Novelution System is a centralized system where you will complete and submit protocols for review.  This is where you will find your protocols to refer back to them when needed.  

https://erac.ndsu.edu/login

NDSU Occupational Health and Safety Program:

Individuals who have substantial contact with animals and anyone being added to an IACUC protocol in an animal handling role must participate in the NDSU Occupational Health and Safety Program.

https://www.ndsu.edu/police_safety/public_health_and_safety/animal_care_and_use_program/

Individual Training Log:

This log needs to reflect the individual being added to the protocol has been trained and is proficient in performing the responsibilities listed for them on the protocol.

https://www.ndsu.edu/research/about_rca/all_rca_forms/#c596707

CITI:

https://about.citiprogram.org/