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Training and Development

The Rutgers University Comparative Medicine Resources (CMR) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) have a required education program that must be completed by all personnel who work with animals in either research, testing, or teaching (faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and contract personnel). 

Training and Education

To be in compliance with federal regulations and accreditation requirements, all personnel must be appropriately trained prior to beginning work with the animals. The training program is essential to the success of the Rutgers’ research program by ensuring continued excellence in animal care and welfare. It ensures that those working with animals are knowledgeable in policies and proficient in procedures.

Training information and records can be accessed through eIACUC, Rutgers’ online protocol system. 

  • New employees - access eIACUC using your Rutgers NetID and password.
  • Students - log in once to register, using your NetID and password.

If you need to activate your NetID, please visit Rutgers NetID Management & Service Activation.

Visiting Collaborators or Guest Researchers:

Information on how to apply for a guest NetID can be found at Guest NetIDs and Accounts-Information Technology.

Course Registration System (CRS) 

CRS allows personnel to view the schedule and register for training sessions. There are in-person sessions, virtual sessions, and self-paced video trainings available. CRS can be accessed by logging into eIACUC and clicking on the CRS link on the left-hand side of eIACUC home. 

Within CRS, select the red "Animal Care Training" tab at the top of the page to view the schedule and register for in-person or virtual training sessions.  Select the red "Animal Care Self-Paced Training" tab for video trainings.

Note: If it is your first time using CRS, you will need to update your CRS profile information before registering for a course.

Mandatory Training Requirements for new animal users

Download the Vivarium Access Form (see NET-ID protected form below). This form contains all the training information below. Use this form to log completed training events and submit to the facility supervisor when attending your tour (Step 6).

  • Have the Principal Investigator (PI) submit a personnel amendment to add you to the protocol(s). The following steps #2-5 can be completed while the protocol amendment is in the submission/approval process.

  • Complete and submit the Animal Research Clearance (ARC) Occupational Health Form. The form can be found on eIACUC under eIACUC Home - Animal Research Clearance. Please select the ARC for the location where you will be working.

  • Complete the online “Orientation to Animal Care and Use at Rutgers” module. The module can be found on eIACUC under eIACUC Home -"AALAS Learning Library".

  • Attend an In-Person Facility Orientation class (currently being offered as a virtual session - available sessions are present on CRS). For the current schedule and to register, use the Course Registration System (CRS) found on the eIACUC website.  

    • Once in CRS, click the "Animal Care Training" tab to see available courses.  Register for campus-specific class: In-Person Facility Orientation (NB) or In-Person Facility Orientation (Newark)

  • REHS Laboratory Safety/Biosafety Blood Borne Pathogen training.

  • Attend a Facility Tour.

    • Contact the facility supervisor to schedule a tour for the animal facility you will be working in. Contact information can be found on the Vivarium Access form.
    • Provide the supervisor with your completed Vivarium Access form when you arrive for the tour.
    • At the conclusion of the tour, your university identification card (RU Connection card) will be activated for that facility.

Mandatory Rodent Survival Surgery Certification

Rutgers Animal Care now has a Rodent Survival Surgery Certification that is mandatory for those who will perform rodent survival surgery. For all new surgeons as of July 2021, this is a mandatory certification to be completed prior to performing rodent survival surgery. If you are already cleared by CMR to do survival surgery, no action needs to be taken at this time. If you need clarification, please email the training coordinator for your campus.

    • Complete the two AALAS Learning Library Modules: "Pain Management in Laboratory Animals" and "Post Procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research".
    • These modules must be completed prior to attending Aseptic Techniques (step 2).
    • Instructions: Log onto eIACUC using your netID and password. Click on the “AALAS Learning Library” link on the left side bar of the eIACUC homepage. This will open the AALAS Learning Library. Once you are on the AALAS Learning Library page, click on the “Tracks” menu on the left side bar to access the “Prerequisites for Aseptic Techniques Class (RU)” Track. Both courses within this track must be completed.
    • Live virtual class via Webex or Zoom.
    • Instructions: Course Registration System (CRS) can be accessed by logging into eIACUC using your netID and password, and clicking on the CRS link on the left-hand side of eIACUC home. Once in CRS, select the “Animal Care Training” button. Register for the course by clicking on the register button on the left side of the course name, Aseptic Techniques for Rodent Survival Surgery(RU). One business day prior to the course, you will receive an email with access and link information for the class.
    • Must be completed prior to performing rodent survival surgery on your own.
    • Instructions: Email the training coordinator for your campus to schedule a surgical observation after you have completed steps 1 and 2 and are comfortable with your surgical technique. You may learn the surgical procedure from a proficient surgeon in your lab. These trainings and practice surgeries must be with carcasses or non-survival.

Mandatory Tissue Collection for Rodent Genotyping Training

This self-paced training is mandatory for those working under protocols with genotyping. The training video covers genotyping methods, including ear punching and tail biopsy. The course includes a virtual training video and a short quiz. For the training to be completed, you must complete and pass the quiz.

  • Access the video by going to the Course Registration System (CRS) found on eIACUC.

    Once in CRS, click the "Animal Care Self-paced Training" tab and register for the Tissue Collection for Rodent Genotyping (RU) video. Training video link and quiz instructions will be within the course registration email confirmation. The video is self-paced and can be watched at your availability. 
     

  • After watching the video, take the short online quiz. The instructions to access the quiz are included within the course registration email confirmation.

Additional Animal Related Trainings

Some of the training courses below may be mandatory based on what is included in your IACUC approved protocol. To see the current schedule of sessions and to register for a class, use CRS. If you would like to attend a training session but do not see one listed in CRS, please contact the Training Coordinator for your campus. 

Species-Specific Training Courses
  • Mouse basics, handling, and euthanasia: This hands-on class will teach basic mouse handling, sexing, and full restraint to ensure safety of the handler and mouse. The course also includes mouse euthanasia via carbon dioxide exposure with cervical dislocation as a secondary method.
  • Rat handling and basic techniques: This hands-on class will teach basic rat handling and full restraint to ensure safety of the handler and rat. This course also includes basic techniques, such as subcutaneous injections.
  • USDA species handling: A hands-on course that teaches how to handle and restrain USDA species on their IACUC approved protocol. This course will include species-specific information regarding caging, behavior, and safety.
  • Rodent breeding and cage density: This course explains the basics of mouse breeding and how to maintain a successful, compliant breeding program.

Individual or small group training classes for specific techniques or procedures are also available on an as-needed basis. These sessions include but are not limited to: 

  • Rodent basic and advanced techniques, such as injections, blood collection, identification, dosing, basic surgical procedures.
  • USDA species specific techniques, such as blood collection, injections, dosing, etc.

Training Program Contacts

Contact the Training Coordinator in your location to schedule a training session:

Forms

Please note: All documents require a Net-ID login to access.

Vivarium Access Form