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  2. Compliance
  3. Animal Ethics and Care
  4. Institutional Animal User Training Program
  5. What You Need to Know About Training

What You Need to Know About Training

What Principal Investigators (PIs) Need to Know About Animal User Training

Training compliance is a PI accountability issue — not solely an administrative function.

  1. Ultimate Responsibility

    Under CCAC guidelines, the PI holds primary responsibility for:
    • The ethical conduct of animal-based research;
    • Ensuring personnel competencies;
    • Protecting animal welfare; and 
    • Maintaining compliance with institutional and national standards.
  2. Personnel Competency Requirements

    Before any individual performs animal work, the PI must ensure that the individual:
    • Is formally listed on the approved animal use protocol (AUP);
    • Has completed all required institutional training; and
    • Has demonstrated competency in assigned procedures.
  3. Oversight of Laboratory Personnel

    PIs are expected to:
    • Monitor ongoing competency within their research team;
    • Ensure that inexperienced trainees are appropriately supervised;
    • Promote adherence to Western’s SOPs, Policies & Procedures;
    If new procedures or species are added to the AUP, additional training and competency verification are required before implementation.

    Delegation of training tasks does not remove PI accountability
     
  4. Documentation and Audit Readiness

    The IAUTP maintains official training records; however, during internal reviews or external CCAC assessments, PIs may be asked to demonstrate:
    • That all personnel listed on the AUP are trained; and
    • That procedures performed match approved training.
    Discrepancies between assigned procedures, performed procedures, and training records may result in compliance findings.
     
  5. Ethical and Scientific Rationale

    Proper training:
    • Reduces animal pain and distress;
    • Minimizes experimental variability;
    • Improves data reliability;
    • Protects personnel safety; and
    • Upholds the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (3Rs)

What Students, Trainees and Staff Need to Know About Animal User Training

If you are joining a research project involving animals, here are the key points you need to understand:

  1. Training Is Mandatory

    Under the standards of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), you cannot work with animals until you:
    • Are listed on an approved Animal Use Protocol (AUP)
    • Complete all required training
      Demonstrate competency in your assigned procedures
    Prior experience does not replace institutional approval.

  2. You Must Demonstrate Skill

    Training is not just completing modules. You must:
    • Show that you can perform procedures correctly;
    • Understand how to recognize pain and distress;
    • Know when to ask for help; and
    • Follow protocol-specific requirements.
    Prior experience does not replace institutional approval.

  3. Training Is Specific to What You Do

    Your training will depend on:
    • The species you work with;
    • The procedures you are assigned; and 
    • The level of invasiveness involved.
    If your role changes, additional training is required.

  4. Animal Welfare Comes First

    You are responsible for:
    • Handling animals humanely;
    • Monitoring for signs of pain or distress;
    • Reporting concerns immediately; and
    • Following approved humane endpoints.
    Protecting animal welfare is both an ethical and regulatory obligation.

  5. You Cannot Work Outside Your Approval

    You may only perform:
    • Procedures listed in the approved AUP; and
    • Techniques for which you are trained and documented.
    Working beyond your approved training is a compliance violation.

  6. Ask for Help

    If you are unsure about a procedure or feel unprepared:
    • Stop;
    • Ask your supervisor; and
    • Request additional training.
    Seeking support is expected and encouraged.

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about your responsibilities with relation to animal user training, please email training@uwo.ca.