IACUC

Georgia Aquarium maintains a Class R research license and an independent committee to evaluate animal welfare and ethics surrounding our research programs. The IACUC is responsible for the oversight of Georgia Aquarium’s animal care and use in teaching and research. It is a federally regulated committee that reports to the Institutional Officer and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
 

IACUC responsibilities include:

  • Review, evaluate, and approve research proposals for animal welfare and ethics.
  • Full review of the institution’s animal care and use program and an inspection of animal facilities every 6 months. 
  • Review animal care and use concerns surrounding research activities and investigate, if warranted.  
  • Continued monitoring of ongoing activities involving the care and use of the animals for teaching and research. 
  • Local, state, and federal reporting as required.
     

Research conducted with Georgia Aquarium must be aligned with the aquarium’s strategic goals, Research Policy, and Research Approval Standard Conditions. If you have any questions or concerns about Georgia Aquarium’s animal care and use program, please contact the Animal Welfare Committee Chair or the IACUC at iacuc@georgiaaquarium.org.

Camp H2OJuly Week 1 1

Conducting Research at Georgia Aquarium

If you are interested in partnering with Georgia Aquarium on a research project, please reach out to the Research and Conservation Department to discuss the feasibility of the proposed project and whether it aligns with the aquarium’s research goals before submitting a proposal to the IACUC. You can reach the Research and Conservation Department at Georgia Aquarium at: GAIresearch@georgiaaquarium.org. 

Once you have completed the IACUC application documents, submit all applicable sections electronically to iacuc@georgiaaquarium.org. Investigators should allow ample time for the processing of their request through both the Research & Conservation Department and IACUC at Georgia Aquarium, paying close attention to the deadlines below: 

 

Submission Deadline Review Date 
August 30, 2024Sept. 2024
November 1, 2024Nov. 2024 
December 27, 2024Jan. 2025 
February 28, 2025March 2025
  

Required Training

All parties interested in conducting research with Georgia Aquarium must be adequately trained to conduct the proposed work on their protocol(s). To ensure continuous education, all participants with a training requirement described below must complete retraining every 5 years via the CITI Training Program (unless otherwise noted below). Complementary training modules from other programs may be considered to satisfy Georgia Aquarium’s training requirements.

* “Species Appropriate Module(s)” include Working with Fish in a Research Setting, Working with Amphibians in a Research Setting, and Working with Reptiles in a Research Setting. For species appropriate training for mammals, birds, or invertebrates, please contact the IACUC.

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