Secure access to facilities

Facility Access

All Division of Animal Resources spaces are restricted. Access is granted on to an individual’s Emory Card. To gain facility access you must have an Emory card, be listed on an approved animal use protocol, and follow the appropriate training steps. The steps for gaining general facility access are covered below.  

For specialized spaces, such as ABSL spaces, MRI or surgery suites, please speak with the supervisor of your facility or a contact for the space.  

All access requests are made through our Qualtrics form.

For general access to DAR Facilities:

DAR onboarding training for access to animal facilities begins after you have received a notification email from the IACUC stating that you have been added to a protocol.  Please follow the onboarding steps to obtain animal facility access after receiving protocol approval from IACUC:  

Step 1: Request pre-approval for the next “DAR SOM Orientation” lecture.  This lecture is held as a ZOOM lecture every Tuesday and Wednesday.  Students with a class conflict or physicians with medical rounds during the regularly scheduled class may email dartrn@emory.edu to request an ad hoc lecture time. You can register for this lecture on Brainier.  Brainier is accessible through your HR Self-Service page (https://hr.emory.edu/eu/learning/index.html).  Once you log into Brainier, you can search for the course by title. 

Step 2: Submit a protocol amendment approval letter stating you have been added to the protocol to dartrn@emory.edu.  This letter is obtained from the IACUC. 

Step 3: Register for the Orientation lecture following notification of pre-approval clearance. 

Step 4: Complete your In-Person Facility Tour.  This tour is scheduled directly with the building supervisor.  Their contact information is provided during the orientation lecture.  You will need to provide them with proof that you have completed the orientation lecture and a completed facility orientation form (emailed to you before the didactic lecture).   

Step 5:  

Complete the Qualtrics form requesting access.  

Please note: This form only opens from this page. Be sure you are using a device that will allow you to upload documentation, as you will need to do so to complete your request.  Documentation you will need to have on hand to upload: 

  • A screenshot or PDF of Brainier orientation completion 
  • A picture of the back of your emory card 
  • A headshot you want used as our system picture 
  • Your signed facility orientation form 

Link to Qualtrics Form:  https://som.qualtrics.emory.edu/jfe/form/SV_3gzxzVAfIX6jfyC 

Your access will be granted within 3 business days of submitting a fully documented request.  

Building Exterior Door Access: The DAR access cannot be used to access general building entry doors, only doors enabling immediate entry to an animal research facility. The Emory Clinic maintenance coordinator authorizes access to enter patient care buildings containing animal research facilities. The Facilities Management lock shop enables access to general research buildings. If your card key is lost, misplaced or left elsewhere and you are locked-out of the DAR facilities and you are not a DAR employee, it is the responsibility of the party that authorized your facility access in the first place (i.e., ordinarily the responsible faculty member) to intervene in this situation. The DAR does not staff or provide a 24-hour, facility access emergency response capability.

Guests and Visitors

Guests of faculty conducting research approved by the IACUC may be admitted to the animal research facilities at the discretion of a faculty member providing they are under the direct supervision of the sponsoring faculty member or the sponsor's responsible, qualified designee. Visitors, except as addressed specifically below, are not permitted to have hands-on contact with animals, may only observe, and are expected to adhere to all Emory requirements, rules and policies related to animal research. Visitors are defined to include Emory personnel who have not met the qualifications for admittance to the animal research facilities or guests from outside of our university community including volunteers and students engaged in non-catalog educational activities. Visitors must be at least 16 years of age and may not have access to non-human primates, biocontainment areas, VAF rodent housing areas, the HSRB animal research facility, or projects involving chemical, radiological infectious or other known hazards without special training and authorization of the appropriate university oversight committee and the DAR Director or the Director's qualified designee. Hands-on contact with animals is only permitted for persons credentialed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or under specific circumstances documented and approved in the "Other Personnel Associated with Protocol" section of the IACUC protocol form.

Minimal Attire

Persons working in the animal research facilities minimally must wear shirt/blouse, long pants, and closed-toe shoes (sandals, flip-flops and open-toed shoes are not allowed).

Gown and gloves must be worn if handling animals, their cages, food, bedding, water, or waste.

Safety practices and personal protective equipment for nonhuman primates, biohazards, radioisotopes, or toxic chemicals are provided during specific training and are posted on room doors.

Updated: 05.22.2025