Prior to completing steps below, please review the UM Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Occupational Health and Safety page.

New animal research personnel (and new Principal Investigators) who will be working with live vertebrate animals must complete the following steps:

1. If new personnel are being added to a previously approved protocol start at step 2. If new personnel are being added to a new protocol start at step 3. All personnel on new protocols must have completed all onboarding steps prior to committee review. New Protocols with personnel with incomplete training will not be placed on the monthly agenda.

2. The Principal Investigator must submit a New Personnel Amendment form throught the IACUC submission portal.

3. Complete IACUC required CITI training UM CITI Account Registration Instructions

• Laboratory or Wildlife Researcher modules

• Species specific or Wildlife, as relevant to the work you will do

If applicable, complete:

• Aseptic Surgery, for anyone performing surgical techniques

• Minimizing Pain and Distress, for anyone performing procedures that fall into Pain and Distress Category D and/or E.

4. Complete other applicable Safety training (biological, bloodborne pathogens, carcinogen, radiation, etc. as needed);

5. Read Asthma and Allergy materials;

6. Complete the Risk Assessment form to the best of your knowledge and with input from your supervisor then submit through the New Personnel Portal.

7. The Attending Veterinarian, Dr. Fyke, will email you after you submit your form to schedule a meeting with you to review, print, and sign your Risk Inventory Assessment. This must be complete before being seen at Health Services (step 9).  

8. Complete Part I and Part II of the Occupational Health Evaluation form.

9. Contact University Health Services for an appointment to be seen by a UM healthcare provider. Be sure to take a prinout of BOTH the Occupational Health Evaluation AND your Risk Assesment, that was SIGNED by Dr. Fyke in step 7, to your appointment.

• Students: Call 662-915-7274 to see Dr. Coon

• Employees: Call 662-915-6550 to see Dr. Spears

10. After the healthcare provider signs Part III of the Occupational Health Evaluation form, email ONLY that page to the IACUC office at iacuc@olemiss.edu. (this can also be placed in the IACUC mailbox on first floor of Barr Hall.) 

11. The IACUC office will notify you when you have met all the requirements. 

12. After recieving IACUC approval, personnel who will perform surgery and/or procedures with more than momentary pain and distress much obtain a Anesthesia and Surgery proficiency certification from Dr. Fyke prior to performing any procedure unsupervised. PIs must contact Dr. Fyke at hfyke@olemiss.edu to schedule evaluations for all personnel that require certification.

Students in Instructor-Led Courses

Instructor-led courses are official UM classes integrated into the regular course schedule and conducted in alignment with an IACUC-approved teaching protocol. Instructors, please follow the instructions below:

1. Complete a Class Risk Assessment Form
   Ensure this form is filled out thoroughly to identify potential risks for the students involved in the protocol.

2. Submit the Instructor- Led Course Roster Form (Or Excel sheet roster)
   Email the completed form to iacuc@olemiss.edu along with your preferred date for the Attending Veterinarian’s classroom visit.

   • The IACUC Administrator will confirm the date with the veterinarian and notify you.

   • The IACUC Administrator will also set up CITI accounts for all students and assign the required training. The administrator will send an email to you and the students once account set-up is complete.

3. Provide Students with the Risk Assessment Form
   Make sure each student has a copy of the completed Risk Assessment Form, which the veterinarian will sign during their visit.

4. Ensure Students Complete CITI Training
   Inform students that completing their CITI training is required.

   • The IACUC Administrator has access to student training progress and can provide updates upon request.

5. Confirmation - ​​The IACUC Administrator will confirm when all students have completed all the required steps. Students will not be approved to work with animals until all requirements are completed. Please ensure that no protocol activity begins BEFORE you receive this confirmation.

*Non-UM students/staff/faculty please contact IACUC.

For more information, please email iacuc@olemiss.edu. 

IACUC Approval MUST be received BEFORE new personnel may work in any animal area.