On-line Tutorial | Vivarium Training | Videotapes Seminars | Veterinary Consultation

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is committed to a high-quality program of animal care that meets both the spirit and the letter of the regulations and policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Public Health Service for the humane care and use of animals in research and teaching. Training and continuing education of faculty, students, and staff is an important component of this program to ensure that the highest standards continue to be met.

Principal Investigators have primary responsibility for ensuring that all persons working under a laboratory animal protocol are appropriately trained. By signing the protocol application, the PI gives assurance that all individuals working with animals will receive the necessary and appropriate training for research animals and that every person engaged in the research project has been or will be thoroughly trained in the methods and procedures to be used. In addition, it is the responsibility of the PI to assure that all such personnel have been made familiar with the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the requirements of the amended Animal Welfare Act.

To assist Principal Investigators with these training responsibilities, the University provides a number of training resources:

• On-line Tutorial:  An On-line Tutorial (http://www.research.uncc.edu/tutorial/index3.cfm) reviews core concepts for the responsible conduct of research with animal subjects. By exploring this easy-to-use tutorial, investigators will be guided through the major principles for conducting research in a way that is consistent with federal and University requirements and with accepted scientific standards.
• Vivarium Training is conducted as needed or requested by the Director of Laboratory Animal Resources and includes a tour of the facility and a review of Vivarium procedures. This training is required of all first-time users of the Vivarium facility. Additional one-on-one training on animal handling is provided as needed or requested.
• Videotapes are on permanent reserve in Atkins Library and may be viewed in Library carrels. Faculty who wish to show the videos in their laboratory may also check them out from Research Services or through the IACUC Chairman's office. Videotapes include:
• Laboratory Animals – This video provides information that is basic to the training of all personnel in the humane care and use of laboratory animals including laws, regulations, ethics, IACUC and staff responsibilities, alternatives, information sources, and methods for reporting deficiencies.
• The Mouse, Rat and Hamster – This video presents information on housing, social needs, ID, environmental considerations, nutrition, handling and restraint, experimental techniques, and euthanasia.
• Aseptic Surgery of Rodents – This video demonstrates the current acceptable practices and techniques for aseptic surgery.
• Anesthesia and Analgesia – This video demonstrates the current acceptable practices and techniques for anesthesia and analgesia.
• The Rat:  Recommended Technical Procedures – This training video is designed as a teaching aid to refine, replace and reduce the numbers of rats needed for demonstration purposes. Safe handling and restraint for injections, blood sampling and anesthesia methods are featured. The target audience includes animal health technologists, graduate students, lab assistants and members of animal care and use committees.
• The Mouse:  Recommended Technical Procedures
– This training video is designed as a teaching aid to refine, replace and reduce the numbers of mice needed for demonstration purposes. Safe handling and restraint for injections, blood sampling and anesthesia methods are featured. The target audience includes animal health technologists, graduate students, lab assistants and members of animal care and use committees.
• Training in Survival Rodent Surgery (CD Format)
– To assist in development of proper surgical skills when performing survival surgery on rodents. Illustrates common practices used in the NIH intramural research program and survival rodent surgery standards established by the NIH.



• Seminars. The Institutional Animal Care & Use Commitee (IACUC) and the University Veterinarian present a Seminar at the beginning of each semester (early September and late January). The seminar addresses the research environment; federal regulation; responsibilities of the University and investigators; issues associated with protocol review, including scientific relevance, justification for the use of animals, and alternatives to animal use; and an overview of veterinary care, including the assessment of pain, anesthesia and analgesia, surgery and post-surgical care, and euthanasia.
• Veterinary Consultation. The University Veterinarian is available to consult with faculty or staff on any matter related to protocol design, experimental procedure, or animal health, and will provide training or assistance in any medical procedure as required. In particular, the Veterinarian will observe or participate, as appropriate, in surgical procedures when work is started under a new protocol to ensure that faculty, students, and staff have the necessary skills and training for the procedures being utilized.

• PHS/Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare training (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/olaw/olaw.htm)
• NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals(http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats/)
• Animal Welfare Act (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/awa.htm)
• UNC Charlotte Animal Care Program (http://www.research.uncc.edu/Comp/aprogram.cfm)