Compute your protocol expiration date, continuing review milestones, and a multi-tier alert schedule. Color-coded status shows green, yellow, red, or expired at a glance.
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When to use
Do not use for
Most IACUC offices need 4-6 weeks of processing time after you submit. If you start preparing at 30 days, a single round of reviewer questions can push you past the deadline. The tracker's 90-day alert is your "start writing" signal.
The 3-year term and annual review cycle are measured from the date the IACUC voted to approve (or the DMR signed off), not the date you submitted the application. These can differ by weeks or months.
A common misconception: filing a major amendment does not extend the protocol term. If your protocol was approved in June 2024, it expires in June 2027 regardless of amendments. Plan de novo submissions accordingly.
Computes protocol expiration as approval date + term length (1-3 years). Generates continuing review milestones at the specified interval (default: 12 months). For each milestone, produces alerts at 90, 60, 30, and 14 days before the date. Status is color-coded: green (>60 days), yellow (14-60 days), red (<14 days), expired (<0 days). Amendments are noted but do not modify the expiration date, per PHS Policy. All computation is client-side.
Last validated 2026-04-07. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.
ConductScience IACUC Protocol Expiration Tracker (v1.10.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/iacuc-protocol-expiration-tracker
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare. PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Bethesda, MD: NIH; 2015.
USDA APHIS. Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations. 9 CFR Parts 1-4. Washington, DC: US Government Publishing Office; 2023.
An IACUC protocol follows a predictable lifecycle: initial full committee review (or designated member review for lower-risk studies) → approval → continuing reviews at annual intervals → expiration after the maximum term (typically 3 years) → de novo submission for renewal.
The PHS Policy (IV.C.1-5) and Animal Welfare Act Regulations (§2.31) mandate these review cycles. AAALAC also evaluates institutional compliance with protocol review timelines during accreditation site visits.
This is the #1 mistake. No matter how many amendments are approved, the original expiration date does not change. A major amendment filed in year 2 still leaves only 1 year on the original 3-year clock.
Submitting a continuing review the week before it is due almost guarantees a lapse. IACUCs need time for administrative review, potential questions, and committee scheduling. Start the continuing review 90 days early and submit 60 days before the due date.
PIs running 3-5 protocols with staggered approval dates frequently miss deadlines. A centralized tracker — whether this free tool or ConductColony — prevents oversight.
ConductColony monitors every protocol in your lab with automated email alerts, PI dashboards, and institutional compliance reporting. Never miss a renewal again.
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