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Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
PHS Assurance D16-00919 (A4730-01) | USDA Certificate #74-R-0216
The UTRGV's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is specifically charged with the responsibility to assure the humane care and treatment of animals used or intended for use in all research, research training, experimentation, teaching, biological testing, or for related purposes involving live vertebrate animals. An animal use protocol (AUP) must be approved by the IACUC prior to any live vertebrate animal work can commence.
In contrast, if planning to do work with invertebrates the UTRGV's IACUC request that a 'notification of work' be submitted.
When a protocol is submitted to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), it undergoes several stages of review. The process begins with an administrative review to ensure the submission is complete and sufficiently detailed, and to determine whether the protocol requires Full Committee Review (FCR) or Designated Member Review (DMR). These review processes are outlined in the charts below. In addition, for approved protocols, certain actions may be processed through administrative review in accordance with Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) guidance.
- Submission for IACUC administrative review.
- The submission proceeds to IACUC administrative review and assessment.
- If revisions are needed, the Principal Investigator (PI) and/or IACUC administrators make revisions.
- The review and assessment step is repeated until revisions are complete.
- Once complete, the protocol receives IACUC administrative approval and updates are entered into the electronic system.
- The process begins with IACUC administrative review.
- If administrative revisions are required, the Principal Investigator (PI) revises the submission. The protocol may move back and forth between administrative review and PI revisions until the administrative review is complete.
- The protocol proceeds to IACUC full committee review.
- The PI makes modifications to secure approval.
- Verification of modifications is completed by either:
- One IACUC Chair or designated member, or
- The full IACUC committee.
- A decision determines which verification path is used.
- Following verification, the protocol proceeds to IACUC administrative review.
- An IACUC approval letter is issued.
- The process begins with IACUC administrative review.
- If administrative revisions are required, the protocol is returned to the Principal Investigator (PI) for revisions to the administrative review. The protocol may move back and forth between administrative review and PI revisions until the administrative review is complete.
- Once the administrative review is complete, the protocol proceeds to eReview, where designated reviewers have 7 days to complete their review.
- After the eReview period, a designated member is assigned to review the protocol.
- If modifications are required, the protocol is returned to the PI, who makes the necessary modifications to secure approval. The protocol may move back and forth between the designated member's review and the PI's modifications until the designated member is satisfied that all required changes have been addressed.
- After the designated member completes the final review, the protocol proceeds to IACUC administrative review.
- Once the administrative review is complete, an IACUC approval letter is issued, completing the review process.
- The process begins when the IACUC receives a notification of an issue.
- The information related to the issue is verified.
- The verified information proceeds to IACUC notification and review. Additional information may be requested during the review, and the process may return to the verification step before continuing.
- Following the review, the issue is classified as either Serious or Nonserious.
- If the issue is determined to be Serious, including a preliminary assessment and consideration of preliminary reporting requirements, the process continues with an investigation.
- After the investigation, the IACUC performs an assessment.
- Based on the assessment, corrective actions are specified.
- Once corrective actions have been determined, the IACUC issues a notification of findings.
- The process concludes with external and internal reporting, as required.
- If the issue is determined to be Nonserious, following a preliminary assessment, the process continues with an investigation.
- After the investigation, the IACUC performs an assessment.
- Based on the assessment, corrective actions are specified.
- Once corrective actions have been determined, the IACUC issues a notification of findings.
- The process concludes with internal reporting only.
tick@lab
All IACUC applications and forms must be submitted to IACUC electronic system, tick@lab. If unable to login, please submit an access request form through IT. Include all supporting documentation for your animal use protocol or notification of work.
Announcements
Next IACUC meeting: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm
Resources
- How to Submit Animal Use Protocols
- How to Submit Continuing Reviews and Amendments
- Common Protocol Errors Checklist
- CITI Program Training
- Guidance for Navigating Occupational Health
- NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
For Emergencies contact Campus Police at (956) 882-4911.
To Report any Suspected Violations of law, policy or regulations please contact the Compliance Hotline at: (877) 882-3999