{"id":263,"date":"2025-11-14T15:18:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/?page_id=263"},"modified":"2026-03-30T18:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:06:10","slug":"iacuc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/iacuc\/","title":{"rendered":"Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-263\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-263-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-263-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-263-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"big-text panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-263-0-0-0\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p>All research (including classroom activities and SMP research) involving vertebrate animals must be approved by the St. Mary\u2019s College of Maryland Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-263-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-263-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_media_image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/01\/smcm-science-biology-aquarium-turtle.jpg\" class=\"image wp-image-301  attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"A close-up underwater view of a spotted turtle swimming with its front legs extended toward the camera.\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/01\/smcm-science-biology-aquarium-turtle.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/01\/smcm-science-biology-aquarium-turtle-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/01\/smcm-science-biology-aquarium-turtle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/01\/smcm-science-biology-aquarium-turtle-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/01\/smcm-science-biology-aquarium-turtle-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-263-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-263-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-263-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-gold-buttons panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-gold-buttons so-widget-smcm-gold-buttons-default-d75171398898-263\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><nav class=\"smcm-gold-buttons\"><ul><li><div class=\"smcm-gb-item\"><a href=\"#overview\"><div class=\"smcm-gb-label-wrapper\">Protocol Submission Overview<\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-icon-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-angles-down smcm-gb-linktype\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-item\"><a href=\"#review\"><div class=\"smcm-gb-label-wrapper\">Protocol Submission Review Schedule<\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-icon-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-angles-down smcm-gb-linktype\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-item\"><a href=\"#forms\"><div class=\"smcm-gb-label-wrapper\">Forms<\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-icon-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-angles-down smcm-gb-linktype\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div class=\"smcm-gb-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/inside.smcm.edu\/directory\/institutional-animal-care-and-use-committee\"><div class=\"smcm-gb-label-wrapper\">Meet the Members<\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-icon-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-angles-right smcm-gb-linktype\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-item\"><a href=\"#resources\"><div class=\"smcm-gb-label-wrapper\">Resources<\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-icon-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-angles-down smcm-gb-linktype\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-263-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-263-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-263-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-title panel-first-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div id=\"overview\" class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-263-2-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-title so-widget-smcm-title-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h2 class=\"smcm-section-title navy\" style=\"\">Protocol Submission <strong>Overview<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-263-2-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text\" data-index=\"4\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p><a href=\"mailto:iacuc@smcm.edu\">Submit\u00a0<strong>new protocols<\/strong><\/a> to the chair by one of the deadlines. The committee will review each protocol after the deadline to make a decision (approved, requires modifications, or withhold approval). <a href=\"mailto:iacuc@smcm.edu\">Submit <strong>modifications to existing protocols<\/strong><\/a> to the chair using the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/IACUC_Amendment_Request_Protocol-1.pdf\"><b>IACUC Amendment Request Form (PDF)<\/b><\/a> at any time during the semester for a designated member review. Protocols remain valid for 3 years from the date of approval, and each active protocol will be required to submit a yearly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/IACUC-Protocol-Update-End-of-Year-Form-1-1.pdf\"><strong>IACUC Protocol Update Form (PDF)<\/strong><\/a> for record and reporting purposes and\u00a0can also be used to close a completed research protocol.<\/p>\n<p>Any animal health or care related concerns can be documented using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/SMCM-IACUC-Incident-Form-1-1.pdf\"><strong>SMCM IACUC Incident Form (PDF)<\/strong><\/a>. These can be <a href=\"mailto:iacuc@smcm.edu\">emailed<\/a> to the chair or dropped off anonymously in the committee chair&#8217;s mailbox.<\/p>\n<p>Please submit your protocol as a single electronic file, containing both the ARF and the attachments, to the chair. Save this file with a unique new name, and delete the first two pages of instructions before submitting. On both the ARF and the attachments, address each item independently, without reliance on information covered under other items or in other IACUC submissions. <strong>All attachments should be typed. <\/strong><strong>Copied materials from grant applications are not acceptable.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"panel-263-2-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text\" data-index=\"5\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><h3 id=\"forms\">Forms<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/IACUC-New-Protocol-Animal-Research-Form-Aug2022-1.pdf\">SMCM IACUC-Animal Research Form &amp; Submission Instructions (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/IACUC-Protocol-Update-End-of-Year-Form-1-1.pdf\">SMCM IACUC Protocol Update End of Year Form (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/IACUC_Amendment_Request_Protocol-1.pdf\">SMCM IACUC Amendment Request Protocol (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/SMCM-IACUC-Incident-Form-1-1.pdf\">SMCM IACUC Incident Form (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/158\/2026\/03\/SMCM-Risk-Assessment-Form-2023-1.pdf\">SMCM Risk Assessment Form (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div id=\"panel-263-2-0-3\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-accordion so-widget-smcm-accordion-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"smcm-accordion  navy\"><div class=\"title-container\"><h3>Instructions<\/h3><i class=\"fa-solid fa-plus open-close\" ><\/i><\/div><div class=\"smcm-accordion-content\"> <div class=\"smcm-ac-content-wrapper\"><p>Your protocol submission to the IACUC will have two parts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the Animal Research Form (ARF)<\/li>\n<li>a written section consisting of mandatory attachments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both parts of the protocol, plus instructions are included in the form.<\/p>\n<p>Information required in the written attachments includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Summary of Study. Please write two paragraphs: (1) a paragraph explaining your project and its importance, in lay terms (non-technical language) suitable for a broad audience; and (2) a scientific abstract of your project and its importance, including relevant citations. The scientific abstract should clearly indicate how the project is supported and justified by the existing scientific literature.<\/li>\n<li>Justification for the use of animals and species. Provide rationale for using animals and for appropriateness of the species selected. In particular, give reasons as to why non-animal methods (e.g., computer simulations, in vitro testing) cannot be employed.<\/li>\n<li>Justification of number of animals. How was the number of animals determined? A diagrammatic flow chart is often helpful to illustrate groups and manipulations used.<\/li>\n<li>Narrative. This should be the longest section of your protocol. Explain the experimental design and provide a complete description of all animal procedures. The experimental course for all animals should be clearly presented from start to finish. Include all research categories checked on page 1 of the ARF.<\/li>\n<li>Qualification, experience, or training \u2013 Name, title, and qualification, experience or training of each person (including PI) as it pertains to the current project, the specific species and the procedures to be used. The PI must be a current SMCM faculty member.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-263-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-263-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-263-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-title panel-first-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div id=\"review\" class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-263-3-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-title so-widget-smcm-title-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h2 class=\"smcm-section-title navy\" style=\"\">Protocol Submission Review <strong>Schedule<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-263-3-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_text panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"textwidget\"><p>The IACUC reviews new protocol submissions according to the following schedule. The Principal Investigator should submit the protocol by <strong>5 pm on the deadline date<\/strong> for it to be reviewed by the committee members. <a href=\"mailto:iacuc@smcm.edu\">Email<\/a> your protocol to the Chair. Protocols submitted after the deadline will be reviewed during the next review period.<\/p>\n<h3>2025 \u2013 2026 Protocol Deadlines<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>September 8:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by September 19<\/li>\n<li><strong>October 6:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by October 17<\/li>\n<li><strong>October 27:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by November 7<\/li>\n<li><strong>November 10:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by November 21<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 1:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by December 12<\/li>\n<li><strong>January 29:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by February 9<\/li>\n<li><strong>February 16:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by February 27<\/li>\n<li><strong>March 9:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by March 20<\/li>\n<li><strong>April 6:<\/strong> Decisions communicated by April 17<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Modifications to existing protocols can be <a href=\"mailto:iacuc@smcm.edu\">submitted<\/a> to the Chair any time during the semester for designated member reviews.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All research (including classroom activities and SMP research) involving vertebrate animals must be approved by the St. Mary\u2019s College of Maryland Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":234,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"full-width-content","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-263","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/234"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":317,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/263\/revisions\/317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/academic-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}