Skip to main content

Guidelines & Requirements

MSU IACUC Guidelines

MSU's Animal Care Program maintains and exceeds AAALAC accreditation standards and other best practices.

Number Title Date Version
IG001 Identifying and Reporting Unanticipated Adverse Events, Noncompliance, and Concerns 8/14/2025 7
IG002 IACUC Review Process of Animal Welfare Concerns, Adverse Events, and Noncompliance 8/14/2025 4
IG003 IACUC Protocol Record Retention 5/8/2025 4
IG004 Protocol Expiration and Renewal 6/12/2025 4
IG005 Management of Animals from Expired Protocols 9/12/2024 3
IG006 IACUC Required Training for Use of Animals 2/9/2023 4
IG007 IACUC Actions Following Full Committee Review (FCR) 6/12/2025 3
IG008 Establishment of Humane Endpoints 5/8/2025 5
IG009 Transport of Animals Used for Research and Teaching 7/11/2024 5
IG010 Guideline for Receiving Livestock to MSU Animal Facilities 12/10/2024 1
IG011 Guideline for Transferring Animals From Agricultural to Biomedical Facilities 5/11/2023 4
IG012 MSU Veterinary Research Farm: Introduction of New Horses and Quarantine Procedures 1/22/2025 2
IG013 Guidance on the Reuse of MSU Owned Animals for Teaching, Training, and Research 7/11/2024 1
IG014 Guideline on Animal Enrichment 6/12/2025 5
IG015 Michigan State University Dog Exercise and Housing Policy 2/9/2023 2
IG016 Guideline on Acclimation Period for Animals Used in Research, Teaching, or Testing 8/14/2023 4
IG017 Expired Medical Materials 7/11/2024 5
IG018 Guideline on Animal Care Provided Within CAR Facilities by Investigator Staff 4/10/2025 5
IG019 Off-Campus Antibody Production for PHS/NSF/NASA Funded Research 6/13/2024 5
IG020 Use of Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Substances in Research 9/12/2024 6
IG021 Guideline on Rodent Genotyping 12/14/2023 4
IG022 Guideline on Rodent Identification 2/8/2024 3
IG023 Guideline on Rodent Surgery and Medical Records 8/15/2025 9
IG024 Surgery & Medical Record Guidelines for Non-Rodent Animal Species Used in Biomedical Research 2/9/2023 3
IG025 Breeding Procedures and Cage Density Guidelines for Rats and Mice 4/13/2023 8
IG026 Anesthesia Vaporizer Maintenance 7/11/2024 5
IG027 Euthanasia Guidelines 7/10/2025 5
IG028 Weight Loss Within Research Procedures 9/12/2024 4
IG029 Guideline for Tumor Burden Assessment in Rats and Mice 9/8/2022 5
IG030 Guideline on Safe Blood Withdrawal 1/9/2025 5
IG031 Retro-Orbital Sampling 9/12/2024 3
IG032 Use of Biological Materials in Rodents 1/9/2025 4
IG033 Tribromoethanol (Avertin®) in Rodents 1/9/2025 4
IG034 Food Fluid Regulation In Rodents 9/12/2024 2
IG035 Guideline on Administration of Substances to Laboratory Animals 4/10/2025 2
IG036 Manual Sanitization of Equipment in Animal Research 8/14/2025 1
IG037 Feed Storage in Agricultural Facilities 8/14/2025 1


Related MSU Guidance, Forms

IACUC/CAR

Environmental Health & Safety

Anyone involved in the care or use of animals, must also be compliant with Environmental Health & Safety regulations:


See also

  • MSU Ag Guide

    The Ag Guide covers farm animals, used in agricultural research or teaching for which the scientific objectives are to improve understanding of the animal's use in food and fiber research as well as production agriculture. This Guide is used to guide the management and use of animals in Michigan State University’s agricultural programs and facilities. Of note, MSU personnel have been authors and/or contributors to this document since the first edition in 1989. The co-editor of the 3rd edition is MSU’s Janice Swanson. The Guide is not intended to pertain to animals being produced on farms and ranches for commercial purposes.

     

  • Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research

    The guidelines are intended to provide investigators and those charged with evaluating animal use in research and education, IACUCs, reviewers and editors of research manuscripts, management agency personnel, graduate committees, and the public with up-to-date general and specific guidance on ethical care and use issues and health, safety, and environmental concerns particular to non-domesticated mammals. The guidelines are intended to bring relevant safety, regulatory, and ethical concerns regarding animal use to the attention of investigators. It is the responsibility of the principal investigator of a project to justify deviations from federal guidelines {if necessary} during submission of a protocol to an IACUC.

     

  • International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals

    The 2012 revision reflects “congruence with the more specific guidance offered by other national and international agencies. These Guiding Principles will be a touchstone for countries with emerging research and teaching programs that use animals in developing a framework of responsibility and oversight to ensure the appropriate use of animals. They may also serve as an international benchmark for countries with well-developed animal-based research programs.” Foreign institutions receiving PHS funds either directly or through collaboration (subgrant) with a US institution must commit to compliance with these Principles.

     

  • U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training

    U.S. Government Principles express the tenets that underlie our current system of federal regulation. These principles succinctly describe the framework for conducting all activities involving vertebrate animals and apply to all activities involving animals supported by the federal government.

     

  • Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International

    AAALAC International is a nonprofit organization that accredits animal facilities. Institutions participate in the AAALAC accreditation program by voluntarily submitting to AAALAC site visits every three years. AAALAC uses the Guide and the Ag Guide for evaluations. If an institution meets all applicable standards, then it is awarded AAALAC accreditation, a valuable symbol of institutional commitment to quality care and use of animals. MSU’s biomedical program has been accredited since 2003 and campus-wide accreditation has been in effect since 2006, and is one of the few land-grant universities to accredit the entire program.

     

  • Freedom of Information Act
    Michigan’s equivalent to the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides for public access to information held by public institutions. A wide range of information about animal research, teaching, and testing is available to the public through written requests.

    Requesters can and do obtain details about animal use activities at Michigan State University. If you should receive such a request DO NOT respond and immediately contact the MSU FOIA office at 517-353-3929.