Facility Access

Animal research facility access by default is granted 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The minimum qualifications for access to an animal research facility by Emory employees are:

1. To be engaged in valid scientific research or education missions of the university.
2. To be listed on an IACUC-approved protocol.
3. To attend orientation by the Division of Animal Resources.
4. To complete the facility orientation prep course.
5. To be issued DAR card key access.
6. To be oriented on-site to the applicable animal research facilities.

General DAR Onboarding

DAR onboarding training for access to the 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: Register for the next “DAR SOM Orientation” lecture.  This lecture is held as a ZOOM lecture every Tuesday at 1:30 pm.  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.

• For registration in classes prior to August 22, 2023: You can register for this lecture on ELMS (elprod.emory.edu) by searching for the course title or course code 265000. 
  
  
• For registration in classes on or after August 22, 2023: You can register for this lecture on Brainier (emory.brainier.com) by searching for the course title.

Step 2: Following the completion of the lecture, you will need to submit a copy of your IACUC approval letter and facility access form (signed by your PI), a copy of the back of your Emory ID badge, and a profile picture to SOMDAR-SECURITY@EMORY.EDU. The facility access form will be emailed to you before your orientation lecture.

Step 3: Complete the DAR SOM Facility Orientation Preparatory Course/s.  This course can only be completed after the DAR SOM Orientation didactic lecture.  The course you will complete depends on the facility you will be working in.  This course is an online learning module that is completed at your convenience. 

• For registration in classes prior to August 1, 2023: You can register for this lecture on ELMS (elprod.emory.edu) by searching for the course title or course code. 
  
  
• For registration in classes on or after August 1, 2023: You can register for this lecture on Brainier (emory.brainier.com) by searching for the course title.

The course names and codes are as follows:

Course Code	Course Name
265601	DAR SOM Facility Orientation Preparatory Course (All facilities except HSRB I)
265602	DAR SOM HSRB I Facility Orientation Preparatory Course
265204	DAR SOM HSRB I CE

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 online prep course and a completed facility orientation form (emailed to you with the access form before the didactic lecture).  Once you complete the tour, the supervisor will notify our security team, and your badge will be activated within 48 business hours.

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: 08.01.2023