Welcome! Florida State University is committed to providing the highest care for, as well as responsible use of, animals in research, teaching, and testing. Any research, teaching or testing, involving vertebrate animals by FSU faculty, staff or students must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and guidelines. This covers both funded (internal and external) and un-funded research as well as class, thesis, dissertation and special projects. University policy is mandated by the Congress through the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as well as various other federal and state regulations. Oversight of compliance is the responsibility of the FSU Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). Facilitating animal related research and teaching at FSU is the responsibility of the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR).

Given the complex nature of the university and research environment, the ACUC and LAR recommend that you begin the approval process and research set up before you arrive at FSU. Investigators require research space, animal housing space, regulatory approvals, and funding to conduct animal research. The sooner you obtain these required elements, the sooner you can begin your animal research.

There are several steps to take before anyone can use animals at Florida State University. These are briefly summarized below; more information can be found in Animal Use In Research At Florida State University: Information for Faculty, Staff and Students.

For assistance in getting started with animal use in teaching or research at FSU, contact Laboratory Animal Resources at 644-4262. LAR and the ACUC are here to help you with your animal use. Personnel are available to assist with protocol preparation, animal as well as space procurement and a variety of other important aspects of animal use.

Animal Use Protocol: You will need an approved animal use protocol before animals can be ordered or used. Allow a minimum of 6 weeks for an approval turn around. Submitted protocols undergo a pre-review internally to provide feedback to investigators designed to enhance the chances of ACUC approval. The submission deadline is the first of the month for consideration at that month's ACUC meeting. For more information on the protocol review process visit the Teaching and Research Protocol webpage.

Training: All personnel listed on the animal use protocol form must undergo mandated ACUC training. For more information on the required training visit the Training webpage.

Medical Monitoring: All personnel listed on the animal use protocol form must enroll in the FSU Medical Monitoring Program for Vertebrate Animal Exposure program .

Laboratory Animal Resources: We hope that you met with LAR staff prior to accepting your appointment. If you have not, please meet with the Laboratory Animal Resources staff as soon as possible to arrange for housing, vivarium space or special needs for your animals. LAR will also help you with relocation of valuable animal colonies from your former institution to FSU.

All animal purchases or imports must be routed through Laboratory Animal Resources.

Environmental Health & Safety: Use of radioisotopes, biological material and chemicals require review by EH&S Biological Safety and Radiation Safety. If your work will require the use of pharmaceutical agents or controlled substances a Florida Department of Health exemption and DEA license will be necessary. Laboratory Safety can help you obtain these items.

The ACUC and EH&S have developed a method for evaluation and approval of animal protocols using hazardous agents. All protocols must comply with the FSU Hazardous Agents Policy.

Contracts and Grants: For information on contracts, grants, transfer and release of funding, contact Sponsored Research at 644-5260 or visit their webpage.

Submission of grant proposals using animals to Sponsored Research does not require signature by the ACUC Secretary on the cover page, however a Sponsored Research Services Animal Subjects Use Form must accompany the proposal at the time of submission.