Animal Research CUE Sheet - 05.05.2026
May 05, 2026
Animal Care and Use Express (CUE) Sheet
A bi-monthly (ish) communication from the UMD Animal Care Program with important information to keep you right on cue!
AY25-26 | Issue 7
May 5, 2026
End of the Semester CUE
Congratulations on nearing the end of the Spring 2026 semester!
The animal research endeavor at UMD continues to see positive strides and contributions in the scientific realms of animal care, agriculture, physiology, health and medicine, psychology and more. In addition to saluting the researchers on our campus, we would also like to express our deep appreciation for the animals in our research program, who play an essential role in the scientific advancements made possible by this research.
Top Program Announcements
IACUC Inspections - Spring inspections have concluded and all PIs should have their inspection reports. Reports are processed and delivered to PIs on a rolling basis, but all reports should be returned by May 29, 2026 at the latest! Please contact iacuc@umd.edu if you have not received your report or have any questions.
AAALAC Accreditation - Our triennial Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) site visit is coming this Fall (see our 2026 AAALAC Site Visit Information announcement for more details). This requires us to gather information from various animal research stakeholders across campus to produce a Program Description, which is due July 15, 2026. We will be delivering digital packets for PIs to work on later this week. Many of our PIs are familiar with the information requested, but new PIs (and established ones who need a refresher) can email us at iacuc@umd.edu with questions. These will be due by Wednesday, June 10, 2026 so that we have time to put all the data together well in advance in order to have time to reach out and tie up loose ends over the busy Summer season.
Pre-review Modifications Completion Requirement - Over the past year, the IACUC office and Veterinary team have implemented a more rigorous pre-review process aimed at improving the protocols that are seen at full committee and reducing time to approval post committee meeting. Now that this process is fully implemented, the IACUC is now requiring PIs to complete the revisions indicated in the pre-review modifications letter, prior to being placed on the next meeting agenda. If pre-review modifications cannot be addressed promptly, please be prepared to wait for the next month’s meeting for review. If you have questions regarding this process, please reach out to the Director of the Animal Research Compliance Office, Pam Lanford.
Animal Study Protocol Housekeeping
We urge our researchers to check their protocols for the following common errors and oversights:
Do your protocols expire between now and November (especially for teaching protocols!)?
Do you need to add or remove personnel (especially outgoing/incoming students as we change semesters!)?
Do you have any amendments that need to be sent in?
Do you have rooms listed on your protocol that are no longer in use, or do you need to add any?
Reminder for Summertime Animal Care
Research and classes continue through the Summer as does daily animal care. If you have students who will be leaving for the Summer or after graduation, you must make arrangements for daily animal care and lab maintenance.
Important Info About DLAR Services
DLAR-managed facilities and animals will receive the same standard of care throughout the Summer.
Animal and Supply Orders: The last day that DLAR will be able to receive animals for the current fiscal year is Friday, June 12, 2026 as the University transitions from the current fiscal year to the next. A University-wide freeze on P-cards will also be in effect from June 19 – June 28, 2026. This effectively means that you will not be able to receive animals or new supplies between June 15 – June 29, 2026. Please make arrangements for supply and animal ordering, as well as supply request pick-up, around these dates as needed.
Additional Holiday Closures: The DLAR business office (ordering, etc.) and the DLAR Imaging Core will also be closed on:
- Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026
- Juneteenth | Friday, June 19, 2026
- Fourth of July | Friday, July 3, 2026
DLAR will not be placing or receiving animal orders on these days, and Supply Request Forms will not be processed. Please make arrangements for supply and animal ordering, as well as supply request pick-up, around these dates as needed.
Only users authorized for self-use of the IVIS Spectrum and Vevo ultrasound will be permitted to schedule imaging sessions during this period. If you have any questions, please contact the imaging core staff at dlaric@umd.edu.
Lab Safety Updates
Our friends from ESSR have released two new assets that are relevant to some of our animal research community:
- New Waste Anesthetic Gas Awareness Training live on SciShield (UMD login required). This will eventually be required for all gas anesthesia users on campus.
- Autoclave Validation Program Standard
- Controlled Substances Fact Sheet
Important Dates
Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Meeting Dates
The schedule for IACUC Meeting Dates has been published on our homepage for your reference. The planned schedule is as follows:
IACUC Meeting Date: | Submit Protocols By: |
September 17, 2026 | August 15, 2026 |
October 15, 2026 | September 15, 2026 |
November 19, 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
December 17, 2026 | November 15, 2026 |
January 28, 2027 | December 15, 2026 |
February 25, 2027 | January 15, 2027 |
March 25, 2027 | February 15, 2027 |
April 22, 2027 | March 15, 2027 |
May 27, 2027 | April 15, 2027 |
June 24, 2027 | May 15, 2027 |
July 22, 2027 | June 15, 2027 |
NO AUGUST MEETING* | |
Fall 2026 PI/Animal User Training Dates
Click buttons below lists to register!
New PI/Animal User Training is required for all new PIs, students, assistants, etc., who will work directly with animals. This includes all handling, husbandry, procedures, transportation, etc.
Click here to register for NEW PI/Animal User Training
NON-PI Refresher Animal User Training is required every 3 years in order to continue working with animals.
Click here to register for NON-PI Refresher Animal User Training
PI-SPECIFIC Refresher Animal User Training is required for all PIs with approved UMD IACUC protocols every 3 years in order to continue working with animals.
Click here to register for PI-SPECIFIC Refresher Animal Care Training
| New PI/Animal User Training | NON-PI Refresher Training | PI-SPECIFIC Refresher Training |
|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 at 10:30 am | August 26, 2026 at 11:30 am | August 28, 2026 at 9 am |
| September 2, 2026 at 10 am | September 10, 2026 at 12:30 pm | September 9, 2026 at 12 pm |
| September 22, 2026 at 10:30 am |