Research Insights

Beginning in 2014, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) will require all personnel listed on an Animal Use Protocol to complete at least 1 hour of continuing education (CE) related to animal use in research every 3 years.  This additional hour of CE supplements the existing requirement to update every 3 years the basic animal care and use training with the “UGA IACUC 101 Refresher.”  The CE requirements are the result of new regulatory guidance that specifies the need for ongoing education with documentation.  The IACUC has been charged with the oversight of these new requirements.

This additional hour of CE can come from a variety of sources but must be specifically related to the use of animals in research. The CEU can be satisfied through relevant coursework, seminars, lectures, and webinars as long as documentation can be provided. The hour can also be completed through online coursework using the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Learning Library at www.aalaslearninglibrary.org.  A unique Username and Password is required.   Accounts are provided free-of-charge to all personnel engaged in animal-based research at UGA. The training course, “Staying Healthy While Working with Laboratory Animals” can also be used to meet this requirement provided that credit occurred within the last 3 years.

2014 Animal Use Protocols and Renewals will be placed on Training Hold if any personnel on the protocol have not received this CE credit on their training transcript.  Any documented training done in 2013 or 2014 will be eligible for the 2014 credit. Documentation of this CE must be submitted to the Research Compliance Training Coordinator at anitrain@uga.edu or faxed to 706-542-5638.  Additionally, please contact the Coordinator if you need access to the online library or have additional questions.