Academic Affairs

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The Hendrix College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the use of all animals in research and teaching. The IACUC’s mission is to ensure the humane treatment of animals and to oversee compliance with federal regulations. This is accomplished in three ways:

  • The IACUC reviews all requests for approval to use vertebrate animals on campus and in the field.  
  • We provide guidance and training in the humane and ethical use of animals to student researchers, instructors, technicians, and faculty.
  • We provide ongoing oversight of facilities and animal care through our Student Animal Care Supervisors and semi-annual inspections.   

Hendrix IACUC Members

          Dr. Matt Moran, Chair 
          Dr. Andres Caro
          Dr. Stacy Lom
          Dr. Melissa Lombardi, DMV
          Dr. Amanda Moore
          Dr. Sara Taylor

The committee contact address is:  IACUC@hendrix.edu.

Planning and Timelines

The IACUC will only review proposals and amendments with major procedural revisions turned in during Weeks 1-13 of each semester. So, if you intend to do research over a winter or summer break, be proactive about submitting research proposals early.

It typically takes 5-10 business days for an initial review to be conducted, at which point changes or additional information may be requested and a re-review may need to be conducted. It is therefore imperative that you request review in plenty of time to go through this process before the start date of your research.

Submitting IACUC Protocols

All use of animals in research or teaching must be approved by the IACUC. If you have a project that you want to be reviewed, you must complete the most recent IACUC Protocol form, available below. Completed forms should be submitted electronically via email (IACUC@hendrix.edu). Questions or concerns during the process can be sent to the IACUC Chair.

Related Document:  IACUC Lab, Field, and Teaching Protocol form 2019-20

Ethics Training and Health and Safety Forms

The IACUC requires that students, instructors, technicians, and faculty who will contact, use, or care for animals as part of their research or teaching must complete online research ethics training through the National Institutes of Health Animal Care and Use Training course.  

NOTE: The NIH training course replaces CITI training. If you previously completed CITI training through Hendrix College within the last 3 years, you DO NOT have to complete the NIH course. Instead, please indicate your prior completion on your protocol or amendment form and submit your certificates of completion

In addition, all animal users and care providers must complete the Hendrix Health Questionnaire and Release forms and Occupational Health and Safety form, located below. Completion of these forms requires documentation of a recent tetanus vaccination and an appointment with the campus nurse for approval to work with animals. Additional details can be found in the IACUC Animal Users Training Guide.

Related Documents: 

Post-Approval IACUC Monitoring 

The IACUC’s Student Animal Care Supervisors inspect and report on animal facilities weekly to ensure animal welfare and compliance with both federal regulations and approved procedures. In addition, the IACUC committee performs semi-annual inspections of all animals, housing, and animal use facilities. 

IACUC Amendments to Approved Protocols

If there are any changes to a research proposal, researchers will need to complete and submit the IACUC amendment form to request approval for these changes. Changes that require approval include new procedures to be performed, new species and/or an increase in the number of animals to be used, new location of housing or procedures, or the addition of new personnel. These changes may not be implemented until they are approved by the IACUC. 

Note: The IACUC will only review amendments with major procedural revisions turned in during Weeks 1-13 of each semester.  

Related Document: IACUC Amendment form 2019-20 

IACUC Protocol Renewal

Protocol approval lasts for three years from the date on your IACUC protocol approval letter. If you wish to continue your research project beyond its original approval expiration date, submit a completed protocol form and select Continuation under protocol status. Continuation protocols must be submitted within 30 days of the project's expiration date. Please note that if the number or species of animals used or any procedures have changed, then the protocol form must be completed in its entirety, with modifications to your previous protocol highlighted.

Related Document:  IACUC Lab, Field, and Teaching Protocol form 2019-20