IACUC Personnel Responsibilities

Summary

IACUC research personnel are required to complete certain trainings and evaluations prior to engaging in work in the lab. Please read this guidance for more information.

Full Description

Personnel not listed?

External members can't be listed within SPARCS since the information pulls from Banner. Any external members should be listed using this Excel template which can be attached to the "Personnel" section of the protocol.

External Member Excel Template

Personnel Training Checklist

Research personnel are required to complete certain trainings prior to working in the lab or participating in teaching labs with vertebrate animals.

IACUC protocols should have one of the following Excel workbook attached with a sheet detailing each personnel's training. Different checklists are available for teaching vs. research protocol. Instructions how to complete each can be found within the Excel document.

Full/part time employees (including employed students) are required to complete EH&S training via Cornerstone for W&M campuses. VIMS EH&S safety office administers lab safety training in-person. Principal Investigators are required to train all research personnel. PIs are responsible for providing specific training for their lab staff.

Research protocol Training Checklist (Excel)

Teaching Protocol Training Checklist (Excel)

Medical Evaluation and Surveillance

All personnel that have frequent and substantial contact with research animals must go through medical surveillance and evaluation. This includes both W&M and VIMS research projects. Prophylaxis is offered upon recommendation from the medical provider, and Tdap vaccinations are reviewed upon hire and recommended if the employee is not current in vaccination status.

PIs should be aware of the reporting requirements when a student or employee is injured in the lab: Accidents and Incidents | Environmental Health & Safety | William & Mary

What is "frequent or substantial contact?"

Any individuals who:

At least 1 time per month for at least 3 consecutive months;
Handle animal tissues; and/or
Are animal care staff (i.e. animal handling is part of the personnel's job description)

How do I initiate medical surveillance and evaluation for myself/team?

Principal investigator/primary contact should gather names and email addresses of all the research personnel needing medical surveillance and evaluation
Email relevant EH&S official with the complete list of names and email addresses
- W&M: safety@wm.edu
- VIMS: Eric Fidler and safety@vims.edu
Please do not send any health information to W&M/VIMS officials. All health survey responses will be stored with Concentra, the medical provider.

What is the frequency at which medical surveillance and evaluation needs to be completed?

Medical evaluations need to be collected prior to work on the protocol beginning. Then, as needed when "conditions" change, as described below:

When assignments or conditions to risk exposure change (e.g. change to animals being handled, environmental change, etc.)
When health conditions change (e.g. pregnancy, worsening allergies, onset of an immune disorder, etc.)

See the Laboratory Animal Occupational Health Program for more information.

If unsure whether surveillance should be conducted, please complete the following survey. Responses will be sent to the relevant EH&S office for additional evaluation.

Please only complete the assessment if you do not meet the definition of frequent or substantial contact as defined above.

Animal Care and Use Risk Assessment

Visiting Faculty/Staff

Visiting faculty should come with an approved protocol from their home institution, and the medical evaluation/surveillance should be covered as the part of their institution's protocol.

For more information, please visit the page about MOUs and institutional collaboration.

Contact Research Compliance if you have any questions.