University of Wisconsin-Madison

Policy Number: 2000-013 [PDF]

Adoption Date: 09/20/2000

Effective Date: 09/20/2000

Expiration Date: ongoing

Review Date: Annually in January

Principal Investigator Status

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to define the minimum requirements for an individual to hold Principal Investigator (PI) status for a University of Wisconsin-Madison Animal Care and Use Protocol. Such status carries with it final responsibility for any and all activities related to the work carried out under the protocol. This includes but is not limited to the completion of annual continuing reviews, the submission of renewals and amendments, and ultimate responsibility for the actions and safety of all personnel who use and care for animals in research, teaching, and outreach activities under an approved protocol. PI designation on a University of Wisconsin-Madison Animal Care and Use Protocol does not assure or imply any guarantee of PI status in any other University of Wisconsin-Madison context, office or laboratory space, personnel and fiscal management, or other department, school, college, or unit support, including employment.

Policy: To be identified as a Principal Investigator (PI) on a University of Wisconsin-Madison Animal Care and Use Protocol, an individual must hold a current appointment that provides either University PI status (currently this includes tenure track faculty) or PI status eligibility (which includes emeritus faculty, academic staff with the title Scientist, CHS Faculty, Laboratory Animal Veterinarian, Research Instructor, Lecturer, Faculty Associate, Program Manager, Research Program Manager, or Outreach Program Manager). For purposes other than Animal Protocols, members of the latter group would have to apply to their college for PI status; special application is not required for animal protocols. Individual ACUC's have the responsibility to determine if the individual identified on a protocol application as the PI is qualified to assume animal protocol PI status responsibilities. Persons denied PI status on animal protocols may appeal the individual ACUC's decision to the All Campus Animal Care and Use Committee, which shall have final authority for such decisions.

References: Animal Welfare Act Regulations sec. 1.1 “Definitions”: Principal Investigator means an employee of a research facility, or other person associated with a research facility, responsible for a proposal to conduct research and for the design and implementation of research involving animals.

Prepared by: R. Lane, N. Benevenga, E. Sandgren

Reference Minutes: 09/20/00, 04/07/06, 05/09/06