The use of animals in research, testing and education is subject to a multitude of laws, policies, regulations and standards. Two such laws/policies include the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service (PHS) policy, which require documentation that personnel are appropriately trained in animal care and use.  All personnel conducting research with vertebrate animals must be appropriately qualified and trained before working with animals.

The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for providing documentation that all personnel listed in a protocol have completed the required animal care and use training, and documentation is included with the protocol when submitted (CITI certificates of completion are searchable in the CITI program database and do not need to be attached in the protocol). Training Documentation Guidelines

Researchers who are external to the University (those without CU Identikeys) are still required to complete the mandatory trainings detailed below. Before they are able to log in to any system (and/or added into Key Solutions), they must first be designated as a Person of Interest through Human Resources to be issued an identikey. See Getting Started page for details.

Mandatory Training

  1. Animal Care and Use Trainings via CITI
    • ​Everyone named on the protocol (including students, lab techs, and visiting/external scholars) are required to complete the following online training courses via the CITI Program:
      • Working with the IACUC: Investigators, Staff and Students
      • Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats
      • Working with (TBD) in Research Settings -- Complete species-specific training courses as described in the protocol on which you are listed. (E.G. If the protocol proposes the use of mice or rats, all named personnel must complete both Working with Mice in Research and Working with Rats in Research Settings. Personnel working with wildlife must complete the Wildlife Research course.)
    • To enroll in CITI courses: From the LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION page, scroll down to find and select University of Colorado at Boulder. It is very important that you log in to CITI in this way so that your training record is associated with your CU Boulder profile. 
      • If this is your first time logging in to CITI from CU Boulder, you will be asked to set up a profile.
      • You may take the IACUC courses prior to or concurrently with the Occupational Health & Safety Training program.
    • To add a new course to your profile in CITI, follow these instructions.
    • Completion of CITI courses expire every three years and must be retaken by researchers. 
    • Questions? Contact the IACUC Office at (303) 492-8187 or iacucoffice@colorado.edu.
  2. Principles of Rodent Anesthesia and Surgery Training
    • Researchers who will be performing survival rodent surgery are required to complete formal Rodent Anesthesia & Surgical training per IACUC requirements.
      • This training must be completed before personnel performing surgeries can be added to the protocol and completion (method and date) must be documented on the training log attached in the protocol.
      • This training is provided in two formats; scheduled in-person (by request to veterinary staff) and/or the university’s Canvas platform. Instructions on accessing the course via Canvas are below.
        1. Self- enroll in the ORI eCourse directly.
        2. Click on Office of Research Integrity (ORI) eCourses from your dashboard.
        3. Click ORI Canvas Course Menu from the homepage.
        4. Click the Animal Care & Use dropdown, then click OAR Rodent Anesthesia & Surgery Training.
          • Click “Load Office of Animal Resources Rodent Anesthesia & Surgery Training in a new window” to start the course.
  3. Occupational Health & Safety Training
  4. Disclosure of External Professional Activities (DEPA)
    • The Office of Conflicts of Interest and Commitment (COIC) administers the Disclosure of External Professional Activities (DEPA) for employees and students who are involved in research activites on campus. CU Boulder requires you to report potential conflicts including, but not limited to consulting activities, external entities and foreign affiliations. Areas of concern include scientific integrity; protection of students' academic interests/progression; protection of human subjects; protection of intellectual property; and misuse of university funds, services or facilities. 
    • Note: Researchers part of an external company that contract with CU's IACUC and are NOT associated with the university in any way are not required to complete a DEPA form.
  5. Protocol-specific Procedures Used to Conduct Research
    • Hands-on training for specific procedures described in the protocol may be obtained and documented through the PI's laboratory or the Office of Animal Resources (see OAR Training Request Form). 

Supplemental Training

  • OLAW Resources 
    • Includes Training in Survival Rodent Surgery, Training in Basic Biomethodology for Laboratory Mice, and Training in Basic Biomethodology for Laboratory Mice
  • Working with Controlled Substances Training
    • Includes training in registrant responsiblities, record keeping, security requirements, transferring controlled substances, reporting requirements, destruction/disposal, and modification of registration. This training is inteneded for anyone who holds a DEA license or will be working with controlled substances.

Training for IACUC Members

Prior to performing IACUC duties or voting on proposals submitted to the IACUC, members must:

  1. Contact the IACUC Director for an introduction/training meeting
  2. Attend 2 convened IACUC meetings
  3. Complete this online training course via the CITI Program - Essentials for IACUC members (IACUC Chairs, Members and Coordinators)

 

  • PHS Animal Welfare Assurance D16-00388
  • USDA Registration 84-R-0060
  • AAALAC Accreditation 001743

Report an Animal Welfare Concern OAR Training