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RPO News

Starting June 1st, Aubrie Clas will be on personal leave to embark on a grand bikepacking adventure through Alaska and Canada and will return on October 1st. In her absence, Donna Silver and Abbey Dattilio will be covering for her. 

Post Approval Monitoring Visits

As you may have noticed, the Research Protections Office has increased presence on campus by launching a more robust Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) program for IACUC oversight. While these visits are compliance based, they are collaborative in nature and allow investigators and lab personnel to have one-on-one time with an RPO Monitoring Specialist to review protocols and identify any outdated information, discuss procedures and policies, troubleshoot problems, and answer any questions that might arise regarding compliance or �պ�����Click.  A follow-up visit may be required for observation of procedures.  Protocols are chosen for a combination of reasons, including pain level, species, procedures, and compliance history.  Following the visit, the Monitoring Specialist will work with you on any subsequent amendments needed to address issues or problems identified in the protocol.  For the full Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) policy, please see policy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How are labs selected for PAM visits?

We try to select a variety of labs for monitoring visits.  Labs are divided into high and low priority labs based on:

• pain level (higher pain level, such as USDA pain level level D or E would be a higher priority)
• species (USDA covered species are of higher priority over rats and mice)
• history of compliance issues
• Complexity of the project or history of unexpected losses

In a typical month, we try to schedule an IACUC PAM visit for at least two different labs.

How can I prepare for a PAM visit?

Preparation for a PAM visit starts with a review of your protocol.  Review your roster and funding sources.  Look through your experiments and make sure they are up to date.  A PAM visit is a great time to identify old or outdated information in your protocol.  You should be familiar with all drugs used in your lab and know the routes and doses. Your lab should be neat and workspaces should be free from clutter. 

How long do the PAM visits take?

A typical PAM visit may take 1-2 ½ hours depending on the size of your protocol(s). RPO Staff may request to observe procedures which may necessitate an additional scheduled visit. RPO staff will come to your labs for these visits.

I think our lab could use a PAM visit. Can I schedule one myself?

We are happy to schedule a PAM visit at any time!  These visits are really helpful if you are trying to consolidate protocols, update your records, or if you just want to touch base to see how you might improve your protocol. 

Rodent Biologics Testing

Reminder to investigators who use cell cultures and other biologic products for your animal work: Rodent-derived biological materials including cell culture stocks, primary tissue or cells, transplantable tumors, antibodies, bodily fluids, infectious agents, serum, or plasma can be a source of pathogen contamination in rodent colonies.  Biological materials derived from rodents originating outside of �պ����� must be tested for pathogens. OACM has a new that outlines how to perform this testing. Be sure to maintain records of this testing as the IACUC will ask to see them during inspections and PAM visits. 

�պ�����Click updates

Over the last several months the �պ�����Click Tech Team, RPO, SPA, and COI have been testing, configuring, and preparing for the deployment of �պ�����Click v10, a platform upgrade from v9.

Timeline:

�պ�����Click goes off-line at 4:30pm, Thursday, June 6, 2024 and will be back on-line no later than 8am, Monday, June 10, 2024.

Whether its �պ�����Click IRB, IACUC, Proposals, Awards, Conflict of Interest or Agreements our goal is to maintain a streamlined, easy to navigate, user friendly electronic research administration system that collects the information needed for compliance with all the rules and regulations that govern the research ecosystem. Think SF424 grant applications, Uniform Guidance, Common Rule, NSPM-33, CHIPS Act, AAALAC, and the list goes on. 

�պ�����Click v10 Overall:

• Updates to the underlying architecture which are invisible to the user.
• Updates to ensure consistency with new federal regulations being implemented.
• Updates to accommodate grant budgeting in person months rather than percent effort.
• Updates to Huron’s delivered COI module, replacing �պ�����’s customized changes to the standard Huron COI/COC/FCOI module. 

The IACUC module will see no significant changes

Click Quick Tip!

Make a PDF of a full protocol:

1. Open the protocol you wish to print by clicking View Protocol
2. On the right side of the screen, view the options for printing by clicking the down arrow. Select “This Project”
3. Select Submission Details on the next page.

You can then choose to send to a printer or save as an Adobe PDF.  Please note that you should not maintain PDF copies unless you have created a solid naming convention to avoid following an outdated protocol by mistake.  Our recommendation is that if you are referencing the protocol for a procedure, that you always go to the �պ�����Click protocol record to ensure you are using the currently approved protocol. 

Educational Opportunities

OACM will hold its first Quarterly Health and Husbandry Information Session for Researches on June 18th from 1:00-2:00 pm in HSRF 300. A reminder will be sent the week before the session that will contain a link to a hybrid option if you prefer to attend remotely.  

Policy Updates

The IACUC has been busy with policy reviews over the past few months. Many of the policies and manual sections had non-substantive edits.  However, below is a list of either new policy/sections or revised sections that may impact your research.  You can find the full version of the manual here: IACUC Policies and Procedures.

- removed usda annual review

– now outlines how protocols are chosen for PAM

– now indicates that the IACUC staggers the inspection schedule throughout the year

 – updated to incorporate the new CSC website and Policies and Procedures Manual links.

 - language clarified that toe clipping is not a preferred method and will only be approved when there is no other means of feasible ID AND it is combined with genotyping. Preferred to be done on neonates under 7 days of age.

- updated language to clarify that visitors are not able to be enrolled under �պ�����'s occupational health program.