IACUC - Find Resources
Regulatory Guidelines
The use of animals in research, testing and teaching is primarily governed by one or both of the federal laws below and their associated regulations, policies and guidelines:
- The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and its associated Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWR), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This is determined by the species used.
- The Health Research Extension Act (HREA) and its associated Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy, 1985), administered by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). This is determined by funding—any funding from the PHS including NIH, CDC, FDA, and NSF.
The PHS Policy uses the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PDF) (the Guide, 1962, 2011, 8th ed.) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (PDF) (2020 edition) as its primary reference documents.
AAALAC and Industry Guidelines
Institutions that are AAALAC-accredited must follow the Guide and the other primary reference documents that AAALAC uses to evaluate animal care and use programs:
- Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Testing (Ag Guide, 2020, 4th ed.)
- The Zebrafish Book (2000, 4th ed.)
- Guidelines for Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field and Laboratory Research (2004, 2nd ed.)
- Guidelines for the Use of Wild Birds in Research (2023, 4th ed.)
UMD IACUC Standards
In addition to the federal regulations and policies, each institution may develop its own standards and guidelines to help manage and implement its specific animal care and use program. All local policies and procedures should comply with the primary guidance documents and must be in agreement with the institution’s PHS assurance on file with OLAW. The UMD IACUC has developed a number of Standards to reflect the IACUC’s expectations regarding animal care and use. Click on accordion menu items to expand lists for each category.
Note: UMD IACUC Standards are NOT the same as DLAR SOPs.
A. Administrative Procedures
A.1. Adverse Event Reporting 9.11.23 (PDF)
A.2. PI Response Time for IRBnet 12.1.25 (PDF)
A.2.a Animal Health Records 3.27.25 (PDF)
A.3. Accounting for Animal Numbers in Animal Study Protocols and Censuses 9.12.23 (PDF)
B. Animal Care and Use Procedures
B.1. Prolonged Physical Restraint 03.27.25 (PDF)
B.2. Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Compounds 9.11.23 (PDF)
B.3. Multiple Survival Surgical Procedures 12.14.23 (PDF)
B.3.a Breeding Mice 5.24.16 (PDF)
B.4. Use of Alcohol as a Disinfectant 12.14.23 (PDF)
B.5. Animal Euthanasia 9.18.25 (PDF)
B.5.a Gas Anesthesia 5.24.16 (PDF)
B.6. Rodent Dist Phal Biop-Ref Toe Clip 5.26.22 (PDF)
B.6.a Genotyping Mice and Rats 5.24.16 (PDF)
B.8.a Medications for Laboratory Animals 5.24.16 (PDF)
B.9.a Pain and Distress and the Use of Analgesics 5.24.16 (PDF)
B.10.a Polyclonal Antibody Production Guidelines 5.24.16 (PDF)
B.14.a Use of Adjuvants 5.23.16 (PDF)
B.16.a Animal Transportation 11.02.16 (PDF)
B.17.a Food and Water Restriction 05.15.15 (PDF)
B.18.a Use of Hypothermia Anesthesia for Neonates 05.15.15 (PDF)
B.19.a Survival Bleeding 10.26.08 (PDF)
B.20.a Monoclonal Antibody Production 05.24.16 (PDF)
C. IACUC Committee Standards
C.1. ASP Review 08.15.25 (PDF)
C.2. Significant Changes to ASPs 9.11.23 (PDF)
C.3. Use of DMR 10.20.22 (PDF)
C.4. Post-Approval Monitoring 3.3.23 (PDF)
C.5. Animal Care & Use Training Requirements 08.15.25 (PDF)
C.6. IACUC Oversight of Facilities 12.15.22 (PDF)
C.7. Invertebrate Species 3.3.23 (PDF)
C.8. Suspension of Animal Use Activities 2.22.24 (PDF)
C.9. Oversight of Field-Wildlife Studies 4.24.24 (PDF)
D. Facilities, Equipment and Husbandry Management
D.1. Ungulate Isolation and Quarantine 3.27.23 (PDF)
D.2. Environmental Enrichment Policy 09.24.20 (PDF)
D.3. Social Housing 12.15.22 (PDF)
D.4. Confirm Function of Steam Autoclave & Bulk Sterilizers 6.22.23 (PDF)
D.5. Separation of Species 6.22.23 (PDF)
D.6. Use of Wood in Animal Facilities 9.11.23 (PDF)
D.7. Anesthetic Equipment Output Verification and Maintenance 9.18.25 (PDF)
D.8. Principal Investigator-Managed Animal Housing Areas 12.04.25 (PDF)
DEA Licensing for UMD Researchers
ONLY FOR RESEARCHERS AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK
This information applies ONLY to researchers at the University of Maryland College Park. Inquiries from individuals not affiliated with the University of Maryland College Park will not be answered. If you are looking for information on obtaining a DEA license and you are NOT affiliated with the University of Maryland College Park, visit the Maryland Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA).
At the University of Maryland, each investigator who wishes to use controlled substances for research purposes must apply for BOTH a state and federal license. Click on accordion menu items to expand content.
Step One: Obtain Fee-Exempt License
Please reach out to contrsubs@umd.edu to obtain verification of the fee-exempt status for both the Maryland Department of Health Office of Controlled Substance Administration (OCSA) Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Registration/Renewals and the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Diversion Control Division Registration/Renewals. The information needed for these sections of the applications will be provided to you once your status is confirmed.
DO NOT send applications or other content with personal identification information filled out to the e-mail address above!
Any questions specifically about the application process for the State of Maryland OR Federal licenses should be addressed to the appropriate entity (see links below). We will not respond to emails with these questions. The information below is the best we can provide and is subject to change.
Step Two: Maryland Registration
Apply for a Maryland CDS Registration with the OCSA. The OCSA webpages contain all appropriate forms and submission tools. Most applications receive a determination within 23 days.
- From the OCSA homepage, navigate to the "CDS Application" from the menu options at the top of the screen.
- Complete the "Practitioner - 3 Year Application." Be sure to:
- Fill out all requested information.
- Select "Researcher Schedule I-V" (Section 1A). The schedule for some common controlled substances are indicated in the tables below.
- Input information provided from contrsubs@umd.edu in Section 1C.
- Provide physical address where the drugs will be used in Section 2C (i.e., your lab including room number).
- List Federal DEA license # as "Pending" (Section 3B).
- As a researcher, you may not have a "Professional License #" so you may simply put "N/A" (Section 3A).
- As a researcher, you are not a "prescriber" so you do not need to register with the PDMP and can simply put "N/A" (Section 4).
- Save as a PDF when complete.
- Complete the "Practitioner - 3 Year Application." Be sure to:
- Navigate to the "CDS Questionnaire" page in the menu at the top of the screen and complete the "CDS Researcher Questionnaire."
- Save as a PDF when complete.
- Complete the CDS Online Registration (for renewals as well–make sure information in the above is revised if it has changed).
- Fill out all requested information and ensure that it matches your answers in the previous two forms above.
- Upload the appropriate PDFs when indicated.
Step Three: Federal Registration
Once your State of Maryland license is approved, apply for a Federal DEA license (you will need your state license number).
First-time applications for Researchers should complete the online DEA Form 225 to apply for the signature required to waive fees for the Federal application. Please see Form 225 and Instructions for 225.
You will be asked to complete the Federal DEA Researcher Questionnaire after you have submitted the application.
Federal DEA licenses must be renewed annually.
Common Controlled Substances for Animal Research at UMD
Federal Schedule
Controlled Substance | Schedule | DEA Code |
|---|---|---|
| Pentobarbital (e.g., Nembutal) | II N | 2270 |
| Phenytoin/Pentobarbital (trade name Beuthanasia-D) | III N | 2271 |
| Diazepam | IV N | 2765 |
| Methyltestosterone (17alpha-methyl-17betahydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) | III N | 4000 |
| Ketamine | III N | 7285 |
| Buprenorphine | III Y | 9064 |
Maryland Schedule
Controlled Substance | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine | C-II |
| Chlorotestosterone | C-III |
| Dihydrocodeinone ≤ 15mg per dosage | C-III |
| Dihydrotestosterone | C-III |
| Methandrostenolone | C-III |
| Opium ≤ 100mg per 100Gm or 100ml or not more than 5mg per dosage unit | C-III |
| Stanolone | C-III |
| Mazindol | C-III (DEA C-IV) |
| Pentazocine | C-III (DEA C-IV) |
| Butalbital, Acetaminophen, caffeine | C-III Fioricet |
Zoonotic Fact Sheets
In general, there may be safety and allergen concerns to be aware of in areas that house live animals. All animal areas should post the following signs outside the entrance:
Safety Concerns in Animal Areas (English) (PDF)
Safety Concerns in Animal Areas (Spanish) (PDF)
Animal Allergen Awareness (PDF)
The University Health Center offers a robust list of policies and resources for emergent occupational exposures, and we have compiled a list of relevant animal-related disease fact sheets below. The Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk has also created a Hearing Conservation Program that is relevant to our program. Click on accordion menu items to expand content about specific species.
Rodents
Campylobacteriosis (PDF)
Giardiasis (PDF)
Hantavirus (PDF)
Leptospirosis (PDF)
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCV) (PDF)
Rat Bite Fever (PDF)
Salmonellosis (PDF)
Tularemia (PDF)
Other Mammals
Birds
Reptiles/Amphibians
Fish