Institutional Animal Care & Use Program

Archbold has an Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) to oversee research and teaching activities involving vertebrates at Archbold Biological Station, Archbold Reserve, and BIR. We are continually working towards aligning our program with requirements of the Federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) and its amendments, the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and other relevant Federal statutes and regulations. All researchers or educators planning to conduct activities involving vertebrate animals at the Station, Reserve or at BIR should be aware that prior approval for both manipulative and observational studies must be obtained. This requirement is in addition to, and separate from, the need for any state or federal permits for the proposed activities.

The procedures for obtaining IACUC approval vary depending on whether the investigator is a staff member or intern at Archbold or is visiting from another institution. Below are some instructions for obtaining IACUC approval.

IACUC Members

• Betsie Rothermel, Ph.D., Chair, Assistant Research Biologist, Restoration Ecology & Herpetology Programs, Archbold Biological Station
• Reed Bowman, Ph.D., Associate Research Biologist, Avian Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station
• Mark Deyrup, Ph.D., Senior Research Biologist, Entomology Program, Archbold Biological Station

IACUC members are appointed by Hilary Swain, Executive Director.

Instructions for Obtaining IACUC Approval

The process for obtaining IACUC approval varies depending on the principal investigator’s affiliation and whether or not the investigator’s home institution has an Animal Care & Use Program that is already overseeing the proposed research or teaching activity. Note the different categories below and determine which best fits your situation. Please direct any questions regarding these requirements to Dr. Betsie Rothermel, Chair of the Archbold IACUC.

In-house researcher (Archbold scientific staff, including interns): The Avian Ecology and Herpetology programs have developed and obtained approval for general protocols covering many routine procedures and focal species used in their research programs. If you are a post-doctoral researcher, research assistant, or intern employed by Archbold, then consult with the appropriate lab head to determine whether your proposed research is covered by one of these general protocols. If your research does not fall under an already-approved protocol, then you will be required to prepare and submit a new, separate AUP Research Application. To allow sufficient time for the IACUC to review your proposal the AUP application should be submitted to the IACUC Chair at least 4 weeks prior to the planned start date of the research.

Outside researcher whose home institution has an Animal Care & Use Program: Visiting scientists, graduate students, and others planning to collect or conduct research on vertebrates at the Station, Reserve, or BIR must also obtain approval for their project from the Archbold IACUC. This allows Archbold to ensure that proposed activities comply with our standards. It also provides an opportunity for Archbold senior scientists to offer useful feedback to investigators who may or may not have worked at Archbold in the past, and ensures the proposed research goes smoothly and does not conflict with ongoing research projects. Only the first 12 items of the AUP Research Application must be completed and submitted to the Chair of the Archbold IACUC, along with copies of 1) the AUP approved by your home institution, 2) your detailed research proposal, and 3) relevant state and federal permits. To allow time for review and any necessary modifications, this application should be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance of the planned research.

Outside researcher whose institution does not have an Animal Care & Use Program: The Archbold IACUC will provide primary oversight of proposed vertebrate research by non-affiliated scientists only in the special circumstance where the researcher’s own institution or organization does not have a functioning Animal Care & Use Program. In this case, the outside researcher must complete the entire AUP Research Application and allow at least 8 weeks for review by the Archbold IACUC.

Visiting classes/field trips: Use of vertebrate animals for teaching, including field courses, is also subject to prior approval by the Archbold IACUC. Therefore, instructors planning to lead classes or field trips at the Station, Reserve, or BIR must follow the same guidelines as outside researchers (see above). This includes completing the AUP Education Application. In some special cases, educational activities may fall under one of Archbold’s internal Animal Use Protocols, but this must be confirmed with the appropriate Program Director (e.g., Avian Ecology, Herpetology) well in advance of the course. As a first step, instructors must indicate on their Visitor Application whether they intend to collect or otherwise use live vertebrate animals during their visit.