The IRB (Institutional Review Board) is responsible for training and approval of all research involving human subjects here at Vanderbilt University.

The IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) is responsible for training and approval of all research involving animals here at Vanderbilt University.

As soon as you are assigned a preceptor, you will start discussing your research project. At that point, you will know if your research project will involve human subjects or animals.

Vanderbilt University requires all faculty, staff and students involved with research to complete training. This training should be completed before you begin your research project.

IRB (Human Subjects Training)

Go to the IRB web site: www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/irb

1. Click on Training
2. Click on NIH On-line Course
3. Click on New User Registration under Registration
4. Complete the New User Registration fields
5. Indicate Vanderbilt University Medical Center as the facility
6. Complete training course
7. Print documentation of completion to give to your preceptor

IACUC (Animal Care Training)

1. Go to the IACUC web site: www.vanderbilt.edu/oor/animalcu
2. Click on IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
3. Click OK on Security Alert Message
4. Enter User Name and Password (this is the same as your e-mail log-in) and hit enter
5. Under Education and Training, click on AALAS Learning Library for Personnel Working with Animals
6. Click on Instructions for On-line Training (New Users)
7. Print and have these instructions readily available
8. Follow the instructions
9. Discuss the training with your preceptor to determine all of the training that is required for their research area
10. Complete the training
11. Print documentation of completion to give to your preceptor

If you are assigned to a project involving animals and/or human subjects, the National Institute of Health requires us to obtain a copy of the IRB approval letter (human subjects) and/or IACUC (animal care) approval letter that covers your research. Your preceptor should already have this approval for all research taking place under their direction. Your research project will more than likely be an extension of the research already taking place. Once you have been assigned a preceptor, please ask your preceptor to furnish you a copy of the IRB or IACUC approval letter that would cover your research project. Please route this as soon as possible to the Program Administrator in Room 7465 MRB IV (Medical Research Building IV).

The Medical Student Summer Research Training Program is supported by the Vanderbilt Short Term
Research Training Program for Medical Students (NIH grant DK007383) and the Vanderbilt Diabetes
Research and Training Center (NIH grant DK20593).