Research Compliance and Tech Transfer

External and Affiliated Investigators - Animal Research

The University of Montana Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) will review and support external and affiliated researcher requests to conduct animal research on UM property or within the Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) facility, on a fee-based schedule.

When a researcher is not engaged with the University of Montana as an employee or student for the purposes of a proposed project, that project is considered external and is charged a review and facility use fees, regardless of the for-profit or non-profit nature of the researcher, company, or agency.

Faculty Affiliates

An Affiliate is associated with the University of Montana through a contractual or collaborative relationship that requires the use of a Griz Card and a NetID for online resources. 

1. New affiliates must follow the required steps outlined by the Provost’s Office
2. Must have Griz card. 
3. UM invoices monthly, payable net 30 days. Report amendments, personnel changes, and adverse events to the applicable committee(s) promptly. 
4. Any Consent Agreement runs three years from its effective date. Either party may terminate on 30 days' written notice. 

Enroll in Emergency Messaging

We recommend all affiliates enroll in emergency messaging as soon as their NetID is active. Affiliates do not have a University of Montana email account, so log into GrizPortal and, under Personal Information, set a personal email alias and a cell phone number to receive emergency emails and text alerts.

Affiliate Renewals

Faculty Affiliate appointments automatically expire on September 30 each year. The Office of the Provost requests renewals each July and works with sponsoring departments to approve them.

Griz Cards and NetID access will automatically deactivate if an affiliate's status is not renewed by the expiration date. Affiliates should confirm renewal with their sponsoring department each summer to avoid a lapse in facility or system access, since a deactivated Griz Card or NetID will also suspend access to LAR.

Scope of IACUC review

Animal care program (LAR) facility and equipment — IACUC

Any housing of animals in, or use of equipment maintained by, LAR. Requires a signed Consent Agreement, IACUC-approved protocol, and facility/program-specific training.

Also working with a biohazardous, recombinant, or synthetic biological agent?

If your animal research also involves a regulated biological agent — including bringing such an agent into the LAR facility (e.g., ABSL-2 housing) — Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) review is separately required, in addition to IACUC review. See the companion "External and Affiliated Investigators — Biosafety-Regulated Research (IBC)" page for that process and its fees.

Cost of review and facility use

Fees below apply to external companies or investigators requesting IACUC review. If your project also requires IBC review, that committee's fees apply separately (see the IBC page). Additional and separate facility fees will be charged for LAR services.

IACUC protocol and amendment review fees — external company or investigator

*IACUC fees will not be applied to administrative changes such as personnel changes or IACUC-required administrative updates. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.

Contact

Questions about external or affiliated researcher access to animal research, AUP review, or fees should be directed to: