DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Guidelines
Animal Research Training Program
The federal Animal Welfare Act Regulations (administered by the United States Department
of Agriculture) and regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services (including
Public Health Service) require training and continuing education of all scientists, research
technicians, animal care technicians and others involved with animal care and use. These
laws and regulations require the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to act
as an agent of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore to determine that personnel are trained and
qualified to conduct procedures on a given animal species, and maintain documentation of
this training. To fulfill this responsibility, the LifeBridge Health (LBH) Department of Research
and the Sinai Hospital Animal Care Facility provide and require three levels of training for all
personnel directly involved in an animal research project. Similar training is also required of
all individuals serving as members of the IACUC. Please note that an animal research
protocol can not be initiated until all key personnel listed on the protocol review
application satisfactorily complete all three levels of training:
Level 1. All personnel listed on a research protocol must be trained in the proper handling
and care of the species used in the protocol. This training will be provided by the
Animal Care Facility Coordinator.
Level 2. All personnel listed on a research protocol must demonstrate competency in
relation to all methodology and surgical techniques necessary to successfully
complete the research project. The Animal Care Facility Supervisor (Veterinarian)
will evaluate the ability of each individual to perform their assigned role(s), and
when necessary, provide hands-on training.
Level 3. All personnel listed on a research protocol must complete the on-line Animal
Research Training Program sponsored by the Veterans Administration Office of
Research and Development. This web-based course consists of 17 training
modules. Training requirements for principal investigators, key personnel, students,
and members of the IACUC are as follows:
Group 1 (Investigators and Key Personnel) must complete:
Module 1 (Working with the IACUC)
Module 3 (Post procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing
Pain and Distress)
and depending on the species used in the protocol:
Module 6 (Working with Cats in Research Settings)
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Module 7 (Working with Dogs in Research Settings)
Module 11 (Working with Mice in Research Settings)
Module 12 (Working with Rabbits in Research Settings)
Module 13 (Working with Rats in Research Settings)
Module 16 (Working with Swine in Research Settings)
Group 2 (Students) is required to complete:
Module 1 (Working with the IACUC)
Group 3 (IACUC Members) is required to complete:
Module 1 (Working with the IACUC)
Module 2 (Essentials for IACUC Members)
Module 3 (Post procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing
Pain and Distress) Note: Optional for non-scientific members.
Modules 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, or 16. Note: Optional/need to know basis.
Note that individuals may be required to complete additional training and/or testing
as determined by the IACUC on a case-by-case basis. These training requirements
may be based on the individual's experience, skills, or specific circumstances.
Current animal training completed at other institutions may satisfy Sinai Hospital
IACUC training requirements. Contact the IACUC program coordinator or chairman
concerning acceptance of an outside training program.
Level 3 training and certification must be renewed every 3 years.
Instructions for using the Animal Research Training Website
www.citiprogram.org is a website where you can select web courses and web-based
examinations that cover the courses. You can view your own records of passed exams, print
certificates of completion from your own computer for your records and for submission to the
IACUC, modify your own username and password, and fill out background information
required by the IACUC.
Log onto www.citiprogram.org and click on New Users Register Here
Participating Institutions drop down box: Click on LifeBridge Health, Inc.
Click on “Submit”
Enter “Username”
Enter “Password”
Re-enter password under “Verify Password”
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Click on “Submit”
Enter requested information
Go down to “CITI Course Enrollment Questions” to Question 2
Go down to “Choose all that apply” and select all that apply:




Working with the IACUC Course (required by all)
Essentials for IACUC Members (IACUC members only)
Post procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing Pain and Distress
(required for investigators and key personnel, optional for non-scientific members
of the IACUC)
Appropriate species-specific courses
Click on “Continue”. Click on “Go Back to Learner’s Main Menu”
“My Courses” will indicate what needs to be completed. Click on the “Enter” for each module,
read the specific information for that module, and complete the quiz that follows. Complete
each module that is required in the same manner.
To update user information and/or user required modules the following procedure is
required:
Log onto the CITI Program at www.citiprogram.org Use the same login information that you
used when you signed in to the training program originally.
Click on “Add a course or update your learner groups for LifeBridge Health, Inc.”
Click on “Update Groups”
Go down to “Choose all that apply” and click on all that apply:




Working with the IACUC Course (required by all)
Essentials for IACUC Members (IACUC members only)
Post procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing Pain and Distress
(required for investigators and key personnel, optional for non-scientific members
of the IACUC)
Appropriate species-specific courses
Click on “Continue”. Click on “Go Back to Learner’s Main Menu”
“My Courses” will indicate what needs to be completed. Click on the “Enter” for each module.
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Reference, Training, and Educational Program Materials

OLAW's Humane Care & Use of Research Animals: A tutorial of policies

The NRC Guide for the Care & Use of Laboratory Animals - all animal research labs
should have their own copy!

Foundation for Biomedical Research - complete home page.

Am College of Animal Laboratory Medicine - Website

Occupational Health & Safety - includes modules and quizzes on bloodborne
pathogens, hazardous waste, radiation safety, etc.

The bibliography of links to sites compiled by the Animal Welfare Institute

The VA's Animal Research References and Documents web page

The Virtual Anesthesia Textbook Scroll down the left side & click on Veterinary
Anesthesia. Under "Related sites", click on "breathing circuits" to get to Alan Klide's
tutorial on rebreathing & nonrebreathing circuits.

Blood Collection in Mice Using the Saphenous Vein - an on-line tutorial showing stepby-step procedures

Blood Collection in Swine (piglets and adult pigs) - a description with photos

The Visible Mouse - Created and maintained by the folks in the Mouse Biology
Program at the UC Davis Center for Comparative Medicine, it covers anatomy,
physiology, histology, and pathology, plus information on genetically engineered mice

All the species and then some - from the Electronic Zoo (URL's only)
Questions
•
Questions regarding your requirements should be addressed to:
Patty Lohinski, CIM
Research Coordinator
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
2401 W. Belvedere Avenue
Shapiro Building, Suite 203
Baltimore, Maryland 21215
(410) 601-9272
(410) 601-8282 (fax)
Plohinsk@lifebridgehealth.org
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