All UNH faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students involved in the care and use of vertebrate animals in research or instruction are required to complete online training prior to working with vertebrate animals.
UNH is transitioning to using USNH CITI Program online courses instead of the current UNH module (which will be retired in August 2024) for training on the care and use of vertebrate animals in research and instruction. Until the UNH module is retired, individuals can choose to complete the UNH module or a USNH CITI Program course (use University System of New Hampshire as your organization when logging into the CITI Program, not University of New Hampshire [the latter is not listed]). (See this guidance for accessing the CITI Program courses via USNH Single Sign On.)
If taking USNH CITI Program courses, individuals should complete ONE of the following four basic vertebrate animal care and use courses based on their role AS WELL AS any other CITI Program applicable species-specific courses:
- Vertebrate Animal Care & Use for Faculty & Staff PIs, & Facility Managers
- Vertebrate Animal Care & Use for Student Researchers
- Vertebrate Animal Care & Use for Student Animal Handlers (non-research)
- Vertebrate Animal Care & Use for IACUC Members & Staff
Courses may be completed according to an individual’s own timeframe but allow a couple of hours depending on the number of courses to be taken. The courses are valid for five years. Email research.integrity@unh.edu with any questions about the USNH CITI Program courses.
In addition to the online general training, training is offered to personnel on a regular basis via the following:
- Providing all individuals involved in animal care and use activities with access to a copy of the Manual for the Care and Use of Animals at UNH,
- Meeting with individual UNH departments involved in animal activities to update regulations, provide information, and discuss concerns,
- Circulating written material as necessary to inform animal care personnel about new regulations or methods pertinent to animal activities,
- Offering individual instruction to project directors, technicians and students for specific techniques, including animal handling, surgery, anesthesia, and experimental manipulations, and
- Inviting UNH or external scientists to lecture on ethical and technical aspects of animal research.
Information about training of all individuals utilizing animals is requested as part of the IACUC application review process, including years of experience with the proposed animal model, and identification of the trainer, if applicable.
To request assistance with training, or for more information about vertebrate animal care and use in general, please contact Dean Elder, Director, or Linnea Morley, Associate Director, Animal Resources Office at (603) 862-4629.
View Animal Care & Use Knowledge Base
The Knowledge Base contains forms, instruction and training material, policies, guidance, tools, and other resources to support your research efforts by topic area.
Dean Elder, MS, DVM, Director
Animal Resources Office
Rudman Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-4629
Email: dean.elder@unh.edu
Linnea Morley, DVM, DACLAM, Associate Director
Animal Resources Office
Rudman Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-4629
Email: linnea.morley@unh.edu
