Principal investigators and course directors must obtain approval from IACUC before initiating any research, testing, or instructional project involving the use of vertebrate animals. Failure to do so is a violation of federal law. The following types of animal use, however, do not require IACUC review:

• Invertebrate animals
  
  
• Whole dead animals not regulated by the USDA [e.g., cold-blooded vertebrates, birds, rats (Rattus only), and mice (Mus only)]
  
  
• Animal tissues, fluids, internal organs, eggs, embryos, fetuses, etc., obtained as a standard commercial product or as a byproduct of another IACUC-approved research project
  
  
• Non-intrusive field research (observation only, no manipulation of the animal or its environment).
  

If you are uncertain whether IACUC review is required for your project, please contact the Faculty Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Dr. Kenneth Rusiniak, Professor, Department of Psychology, 537 Mark Jefferson, 487-1155, ken.rusiniak@emich.edu.