1. The investigator submits an electronic copy, and hard copy with all necessary signatures to the OACC
2. The protocol is assigned to IACUC Committee Members for pre-review A Primary Reviewer, Secondary Reviewer, and Veterinary Reviewer
3. Reviewer comments are received by the OACC, summarized, and sent to the investigator for response
4. The investigator response and reviewer comments are added to the IACUC meeting agenda for full committee review
   The pre-review increases the likelihood of protocols receiving full approval and speeds up the process for the investigator
5. At the IACUC meeting the protocol will receive either Full Approval, Contingency Approval, or be Denied

• Full Approval – Investigators, and the ARF (if appropriate) are notified by email with a letter of approval
• Contingency Approval – Investigators are notified by email with a letter of contingency approval and a request for PI response to a particular issue, clarification of an issue, or IBC, COEHP, or SRS documentation
• Investigator responses to contingency approval go to a subcommittee of the IACUC for further review and the subcommittee can either grant full approval, or send to the IACUC for full review
• Denied – Investigators are notified by email with a letter of denial and the reasons for the denial of the protocol
• Investigators can appeal the review of the denied protocol and it will go back for full committee review, address the issues raised by the IACUC and re-submit, or cancel the submission entirely

Amendments to Protocols

A major amendment to an approved protocol is handled in the same way as a new protocol. The amendment is submitted to the OACC and is sent to IACUC members for pre-review. Reviewer comments are sent to the PI for response, and both the investigator response and reviewer comments are add to the IACUC meeting agenda for full committee review.

A minor amendment to an approved protocol can be approved by subcommittee, but is also added to the IACUC meeting agenda for member comment.

Annual Reviews

All approved protocols must undergo an annual review process on the anniversary date of the original protocol approval date. Approved protocols are good for 3 years. On the first and second anniversary date, the protocol undergoes a subcommittee review and is then added to the next IACUC agenda for full committee comment. On the third anniversary date the protocol must be renewed or closed. A renewal consists of re-submitting the Animal Use Protocol Form and full committee review as if it were a new protocol.