Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Animals used in the University’s research and educational activities must be treated humanely and in accord with widely accepted best practices and principles. Federal law requires prior review and approval of all activities involving live vertebrates by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Applicants must first complete the IACUC Application Form and applicable IACUC Application Appendices and submit electronically as email attachments to IACUCFREEMississippi. Second, applicants must submit the Signature Page and Assurance Statements to IACUC, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5116, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001. Review of applications takes two to six weeks.

Researchers must have non-expired CITI certificates for both the Animal Subjects Research Course and the Common Course. This includes faculty members supervising student theses requiring IACUC approval and members of the IACUC Committee. Beginning in fall 2025, all USM faculty and staff who conduct animal subjects research reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) will have to complete two additional CITI courses: one for Conflicts of Interest and one for Research Security. Additionally, any students (graduate or undergraduate) involved in federally-funded research must also complete these courses. The courses are now available in CITI and must be completed by September 30th, 2025.

Approved projects are valid until two years from the September 30 after approval. (For example, a project approved on either November 5, 2021 or April 15, 2022 is valid until September 30, 2024). For projects extending beyond the expiration date, request renewals using the standard IACUC application form. Principal investigators will be notified approximately one month prior to approval expiration. If a researcher is not aware of their protocol's expiration date, contact IACUCFREEMississippi.

USM Animal Subjects Research Policy

Reporting Concerns: Concerns and inquiries concerning noncompliance and possible mistreatment of animals in USM’s Animal Research Facilities may be made confidentially by submitting an Adverse Event Form to IACUCFREEMississippi. Anonymous complaints may be submitted here.

In keeping with USM Animal Subjects Research Policy and USM IACUC SOP 8, complainants are protected from nondiscrimination and retaliation.

To access IACUC forms and guidance, click here.

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