Claremont McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College maintain a joint Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), in accordance with the US Federal Public Health Service, to ensure humane care and responsible use of animals. Projects using vertebrate animals must be approved in advance by this committee.
If you are unsure about whether you need an IACUC protocol for your project, or have any other questions about the process, please contact the IACUC chair.
The IACUC Application and Review Process
Details on the process for IACUC review of a new or resubmitted protocol application can be found in the CMC-HMC IACUC Protocol Application Review Process policy. Protocols are approved for a maximum of 3 years.
Briefly, the Principal Investigator (PI, the faculty member supervising the project), should submit their application at least 6 weeks before the intended start of the project. An initial administrative review by the IACUC chair will be performed, then the application will go through review by the IACUC veterinarian and the Environmental & Chemical Hygiene Officer (ECHO). After any needed revisions, the application will proceed to either a full or expedited committee review, depending on the nature of the proposed work. The PI will receive written notification of the outcome of review.
PIs should use this form for new or triennial renewal protocol applications.
Appendices that may be required depending on the nature of the proposed work are:
Table of Substances to be Administered in a CMC-HMC IACUC Protocol
Request to Use Hazardous Agents in Live Vertebrate Animals
CMC-HMC Animal Care Standard Operating Procedure: Investigator Maintained Animals
Medical Monitoring Program for Vertebrate Animal Exposure Enrollment and Risk Assessment Form
Required training
All individuals named on an IACUC protocol must undergo online CITI training to ensure understanding of the IACUC and regulations applicable to the proposed work. CITI training is available to CMC researchers through the Office of Institutional Philanthropy and Sponsored Research. When creating a new CITI account, specify “Claremont McKenna College” as your affiliated subscriber organization (you should use your CMC email address for personal information). After completing the registration process, you will be asked what courses you are required to take. Required courses will fall within the categories of “Animal Care and Use”, “Laboratory Chemical Safety” and “Biosafety and Biosecurity”. This chart outlines required training for all individuals, and trainings that may be required depending on the work proposed in the protocol. Courses do not have to be completed within a single session, CITI will save your progress and you may return at a later time to finish training. Training in its entirety may take several hours, depending on which courses you are required to take.
In addition to CITI training, in-person trainings may be required based on the proposed activities (e.g., handling of your animal species, aseptic surgical technique). These will be discussed with the PI by the IACUC chair and the ECHO/EH&S.