SCAW Winter Conference
December 9-10, 2019 | San Antonio, TX

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present the 2019 Winter Conference on December 9-10, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas. This year’s topic is Keeping Pace with the Future: Ensuring IACUCs Run the Right Race. The 2-day conference is for IACUC members and administrators, principal investigators, attending veterinarians, regulatory personnel and laboratory animal care staff. The program will provide key findings and advances in research animal welfare, explore policy and management issues related to IACUCs, and develop awareness of humane care and use of animals in research.

For program, registration and accommodation information, visit the 2019 Winter Conference. 

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the November 2019 issue, A Word from OLAW and APHIS responds to the topic Cardiac surgeon wanted: mouse experience required? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48(11). (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.

SCAW IACUC Training Workshop
November 22, 2019 | Chicago, IL

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on November 22, 2019, in Chicago, IL. SCAW’s IACUC Training Workshop educates and trains individuals who work with laboratory animals in research, testing and education. They include IACUC members and administrators, Principal Investigators, veterinarians, regulatory personnel and laboratory animal care staff. The regional workshop format lets small groups discuss specific topics that are relevant to IACUC functions. Each workshop is structured in similar design, with slight changes made to meet local needs.

For program, registration and accommodation information, visit SCAW IACUC Training Workshops. 

ICARE Academy: Refining IACUC Function (IA Refining)
Advanced Training for IACUC Members and Animal Program Personnel
January 14-16, 2020 | Tampa, FL

Discounted early registration  ends December 6, 2019!

You Will Learn About Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and institutional responsibilities to optimize animal welfare in animal care and use programs, increase compliance, and minimize regulatory burden. A wide range of topics will be covered, from what to report, to veterinary verification and consultation (VVC), to site visits and inspections! Click here  to see the full agenda (subject to change).

You Should Attend if you are an IACUC member or staff, Institutional Official, veterinarian, animal facility personnel, administrator, consultant, or compliance and regulatory personnel, and are already familiar with federal animal welfare oversight standards. If you need to begin exploring federal animal welfare oversight standards, check out our NEW IA Intro  workshop! Can’t make it to the Tampa IA Refining? Join us for another IA Refining workshop  in Denver, CO, April 28-30, 2020!

IA Refining is a fast-paced 3-day workshop which provides participants with an understanding of animal welfare oversight concepts, enables them to correct misunderstandings of federal standards, and learn methods for more efficient and effective animal program and IACUC functioning. Engage with federal, academic, and private sector faculty who are subject matter experts, and actively learn concepts through large interactive sessions, small facilitated breakout groups, presentations, group work, and discussions.

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Project is an initiative of the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, National Science Foundation, and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Recording of FDP webinar on “Agreements between Collaborating Institutions Using Vertebrate Animals” now available

In this Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) webinar held October 9, 2019, OLAW and institutional representatives discussed the different types of agreements that institutions can issue (memorandums of understanding, subawards, etc.) and the purpose of each, the expectations for congruency reviews, and the reporting of issues to OLAW. The slides and webinar recording are now available on the FDP IACUC Subcommittee  webpage.

NJABR IACUC 26 Conference
Reducing Regulatory Burdens – Improving Animal Welfare
November 15, 2019 | Somerset, NJ

The New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research (NJABR) will hold the IACUC 26 Conference on November 15, 2019 in Somerset, NJ. NJABR’s annual IACUC Conference is the region’s premier training event for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee members and managers, laboratory animal veterinarians, animal welfare compliance specialists, laboratory animal care staff and other research team members. This year's conference will focus on opportunities to improve laboratory animal welfare and increasing the connection between human and animal health, while reducing regulatory burdens and ensuring that institutional policies promote best outcomes possible.

For additional information, see IACUC 26: The Charge & The Challenge.

IACUC Administrators Association Best Practices Meeting
November 6-7, 2019 | Knoxville, TN

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) will present a Best Practices Meeting on November 6-7, 2019, in Knoxville, TN. The Best Practices meetings are for IACUC staff and animal program operations personnel to present and share best practices in the humane care and use of laboratory animals. The primary goals are to foster networking, the sharing of resources, and peer-to-peer counseling with a focus on proven practices to maintain an effective and compliant animal care and use program.

For additional information, visit IAA  or email wggreer@UMich.edu.

IACUC 101/201/301 Workshops

November 6-8, 2019 | Houston, TX

The IACUC 101 Series is an educational program for IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) members, administrators, veterinarians, animal care staff, researchers, regulatory personnel, and compliance officers to learn about the role and responsibilities of the IACUC. 

IACUC 101: The Basics is a one-day didactic and interactive exploration of IACUC fundamentals appropriate for new and seasoned IACUC members, IACUC affiliates, and individuals responsible for their institution’s animal care program. The course provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the humane care and use of research animals.

IACUC 201: Beyond The Basics is a highly interactive advanced program that builds on the basics and provides multiple opportunities to engage in real life applications of the basic concepts with the goals of learning new approaches and gaining new perspectives for managing issues that many animal care and use programs face. The course includes several active learning sessions as well as Q&A sessions with representatives of OLAW, USDA, and AAALAC.

IACUC 301: Scenarios is a full day of IACUC scenarios that address a mix of straight forward to complex situations interspersed with Q&A sessions. Topics will include IACUC membership, protocol review, semiannual review, pain and distress, and more.

You can register for one, two, or all three programs. Learn more at IACUC 101 Series. 

Human-Animal Interactions in the Research Environment: A Workshop
October 28-29, 2019 | Bethesda, MD

Join the ILAR Roundtable  for a free 2-day workshop on October 28-29, 2019, to explore and characterize aspects of the complex scientific, ethical, and occupational health issues associated with human-animal interactions (HAI) in the biomedical research environment. The workshop will consider the full range of people who are involved in animal care and use in biomedical research settings. Workshop discussions will include potential workplace impacts and relevant tools, processes, and lessons learned from existing programs focused on the impacts of HAI in research settings. The workshop will be webcast and a Proceedings will be published following the event. Click here to download the agenda (PDF) .

The workshop will be held in Balcony A of Building 45 (the Natcher Building), NIH Bethesda Campus. Learn more and register today! 

Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Webinar: Agreements between Collaborating Institutions Using Vertebrate Animals
October 9, 2019 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

The FDP will present a free webinar on October 9 for leaders in sponsored projects and IACUC offices, and individuals who oversee, participate in, and issue subawards and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to collaborating institutions that perform research with vertebrate animals.

In this webinar, OLAW will join institutional representatives to help clarify the different types of agreements that institutions can issue (MOUs, subawards, etc.) and the purpose of each, the expectations for congruency reviews, and the reporting of issues to OLAW.

Learn more and register . A recording of the webinar will be posted on the FDP website when available.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the October 2019 issue, A Word from OLAW and APHIS responds to the topic Pressure’s on: is it time to move ahead with nonhuman primates? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48(10). (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.

3Rs Symposium: Practical Solutions and Success Stories
June 4-5, 2020 | Beltsville, MD

Save the date!

The 7^th Annual Symposium co-hosted by USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC), NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), the Johns Hopkins Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) will be held June 4-5, 2020, in Beltsville, MD. The goal of this year’s symposium is to bring together experts in translational biomedical models and refinements in animal care and use to exchange information with scientists, IACUC members, veterinarians, and animal care technicians about practical solutions and recent success stories that improve animal welfare.

The format includes 1.5 days of lectures and panel discussions with interactive breakout sessions in the afternoon on day 2. These lectures give participants a strong foundation in the relevant research underlying breakthroughs in the 3Rs, while the breakout sessions allow participants to get feedback specific to their own facilities from experts and colleagues. A half-day tour of labs and research centers at the Agricultural Research Service is planned for June 3, 2019 as an optional pre-symposium activity.

SCAW IACUC Training Workshop
September 27, 2019 | New York City, NY

Still time to register! Go to SCAW IACUC Training Workshops. 

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on September 27, 2019, in New York City, NY. SCAW’s IACUC Training Workshop educates and trains individuals who work with laboratory animals in research, testing and education. The workshop format lets small groups discuss specific topics that are relevant to IACUC functions. Topics include: IACUC training and responsibilities, managing administrative and regulatory burden, and concepts on compliance. Plus, an update from USDA and OLAW.

OLAW Online Seminar 
Application of the AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals to Biomedical Research
September 26, 2019 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Speakers

• Samuel Cartner, DVM, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Jennifer Pullium, MVB, DACLAM, New York University School of Medicine
• Axel Wolff, MS, DVM, NIH, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare

In this webinar, Dr. Samuel Cartner will review the AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals with a focus on the sections that apply to the biomedical research animal environment. Dr. Jennifer Pullium will then discuss these guidelines in the context of a real-life disaster, Hurricane Sandy. The discussion will include OLAW’s perspective of these Guidelines by Dr. Axel Wolff.

How to Enroll
A one-time enrollment is required to participate in the program. Enrollees receive registration information prior to each event. Find out how to enroll at https://olaw.nih.gov/education/online-seminars.htm.

About OLAW Webinars
The OLAW Online Seminars program is a free webinar series to help IACUCs and IOs explore their responsibilities in the oversight of PHS-funded research that involves the use of live vertebrate animals.

For recordings of past webinars, visit the Webinars and Podcasts webpage.

Cate Pritchard, PhD, MS, has joined the Division of Policy and Education as an Animal Welfare Policy Scientist. Cate received her PhD from The Pennsylvania State University where she conducted research on predator-prey interactions between pumas and vicuñas in the field. She has a background in marine biology and terrestrial ecology and experience in international field work.

Nicole Lukovsky-Akhsanov, DVM, MPH, has joined the Division of Assurances as a Veterinary Medical Officer and will be providing support to the Division of Compliance Oversight. Prior to joining OLAW, Dr. Lukovsky-Akhsanov completed her laboratory animal medicine residency at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and subsequently served as Assistant Director, Office of Animal Welfare, at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She received her DVM from the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine and MPH in Epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.

To learn more about OLAW, see About Us.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the September 2019 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic: A late notice & personal conflict – was suspension warranted? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48(9). (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.

NIH announces in NOT-OD-19-136 the publication of Reducing Administrative Burden for Researchers: Animal Care and Use in Research (PDF), a report by the NIH, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The report describes the recommendations of the 21st Century Cures Act, Section 2034(d), Working Group and decisions of the agencies.

More information can be found on the OLAW website at https://olaw.nih.gov/21st-century-cures-act.htm.

Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal Welfare Act: A Workshop
October 2-3, 2019 | Beltsville, MD

The USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) teaches a free one and a half day workshop at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, MD, for individuals who are responsible for providing information to meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The workshop is targeted for principal investigators, members of IACUCs, information providers, administrators of animal use programs, and veterinarians.

Course objectives are to provide:

• Overview of the AWA and its information requirements
• Review of the alternatives concept
• Introduction to NAL, AWIC and other organizations
• Instruction on the use of existing information databases/networks
• On-line database searching experience

For more information, go to https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/awic-workshop. 

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the August 2019 issue, A Word from APHIS and OLAW responds to the topic: On hold: what to report after a study is halted? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48(8). (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.

ICARE Academy
September 10-11, 2019 | Alexandria, VA

Early rate discount extended to August 9th – Register Now & Save!

Are you an IACUC member or staff, Institutional Official, veterinarian, animal facility personnel, administrator, consultant, or compliance and regulatory personnel? Don’t miss this training opportunity at the ICARE Academy being held on September 10-11 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel in the historic King Street neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia.

This 2-day program focuses on topics that facilitate effective IACUC function. You will work in both large interactive sessions and facilitated breakout groups engaging in active learning techniques to learn about IACUC and institutional responsibilities to optimize animal welfare in animal care and use programs.

Find out more by visiting the ICARE Project.

Registration Open for Upcoming IACUC 101 Series Workshops

IACUC 101/201 
August 21-22, 2019 | Bloomington, MN

IACUC 101/201/301
November 6-8, 2019 | Houston, TX

IACUC 101: The Basics is a one-day didactic and interactive exploration of IACUC fundamentals appropriate for new and seasoned IACUC members, IACUC affiliates, and individuals responsible for their institution’s animal care program. The course provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the humane care and use of research animals.

IACUC 201: Beyond The Basics is a highly interactive advanced program that builds on the basics and provides multiple opportunities to engage in real life applications of the basic concepts with the goals of learning new approaches and gaining new perspectives for managing issues that many animal care and use programs face. The course includes several active learning sessions as well as Q&A sessions with representatives of OLAW, USDA, and AAALAC.

IACUC 301: Scenarios is a full day of IACUC scenarios that address a mix of straight forward to complex situations interspersed with Q&A sessions. Topics will include IACUC membership, protocol review, semiannual review, pain and distress, and more.

Learn more & register at IACUC 101 Series.

ICARE Academy
Training for IACUC Members and Animal Program Personnel
September 10-11, 2019 | Alexandria, VA

Don’t forget to register – early rate discount ends July 30!

You Will Learn About – IACUC and institutional responsibilities to optimize animal welfare in animal care and use programs, increase compliance, and minimize regulatory burden. Topics include IACUC authority, policies, and practices, reporting, protocol review, PAM, and effective communication.

Get Trained – by federal, academic, and private sector faculty who are subject matter experts. You will work in both large interactive sessions and small facilitated breakout groups engaging in active learning activities such as interactive presentations, group work, and discussions.

You Should Attend – if you are an IACUC member or staff, Institutional Official, veterinarian, animal facility personnel, administrator, consultant, or compliance and regulatory personnel.

Find Out More – by visiting ICARE Project.

Animal Research: Still Necessary for Understanding Human Disease
FASEB & AAMC Webinar
July 17, 2019 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET

Register Here! 

The use of animals in research has contributed to our understanding about how living things work, allowing scientists to apply this knowledge and help diagnose, treat, and prevent numerous diseases and conditions. In this webinar, the speakers will review current research being conducted to address our nation’s most pressing public health concerns and highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate animal model for individual scientific questions.

SCAW IACUC Training Workshop
September 27, 2019 | New York City, NY

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on September 27, 2019, in New York City, NY. SCAW’s IACUC Training Workshop educates and trains individuals who work with laboratory animals in research, testing and education. They include IACUC members and administrators, Principal Investigators, veterinarians, regulatory personnel and laboratory animal care staff. The regional workshop format lets small groups discuss specific topics that are relevant to IACUC functions. Each workshop is structured in similar design, with slight changes made to meet local needs.

For program, registration and accommodation information, visit SCAW IACUC Training Workshops. 

This webinar held March 18, 2019, featured representatives from OLAW, USDA, and institutional animal welfare and compliance offices. The speakers clarify what is and is not required by the federal government in an effort to reduce regulatory burden while maintaining high standards of animal care. Links to view the recording and download the slides and Q&A document can all be found at FASEB Archived Webinars.  

ICARE Academy
Training for IACUC Members and Animal Program Personnel
September 10-11, 2019 | Alexandria, VA

Register Early & Save!

You Will Learn About

• responsibilities and authorities conferred on IACUCs by federal law
• contribution of IACUC policies to animal welfare, regulatory drift, and investigator burden
• resources to increase IACUC function efficiency
• federal standards and ethical considerations in protocol review
• effective post approval review methods
• strategies for implementing the concepts learned
• behaviors that lead to better communications within the IACUC and between the IACUC, investigators, and Institutional Officials

What to Expect

You will be trained by federal, academic, and private sector faculty who are experts in the field. You will work in both large interactive sessions and small facilitated breakout groups engaging in learning activities such as interactive presentations, group work, and discussions.

Who Should Attend

Participation is open to those involved in U.S. animal care and use programs, including IACUC members and staff, IOs, veterinarians, animal facilities personnel, administrators, consultants, and compliance and regulatory personnel.

Program & Registration

To learn more about the program and how to register, visit ICARE Project.

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Project is an initiative of the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, National Science Foundation, and Department of Veterans Affairs.

IACUC 101/201 Workshops
August 21-22, 2019 | Bloomington, MN

IACUC 101: The Basics is a one-day didactic and interactive exploration of IACUC fundamentals appropriate for new and seasoned IACUC members, IACUC affiliates, and individuals responsible for their institution's animal care program. The course provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the humane care and use of research animals.

IACUC 201: Beyond The Basics is a highly interactive advanced program that builds on the basics and provides multiple opportunities to engage in real life applications of the basic concepts with the goals of learning new approaches and gaining new perspectives for managing issues that many animal care and use programs face. The course includes several active learning sessions as well as question and answer sessions with representatives of OLAW, USDA, and AAALAC.

Learn more at IACUC 101.  

OLAW Webinar: The 4^th R – Rehoming, Retirement and Release
June 13, 2019 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Join us to hear Dr. Lara Helwig of Brown University talk about options for laboratory animals after the research study has ended. She will discuss how to set up adoption, retirement, and release programs, when to use them, and considerations to include in study designs. She will also look at establishing institutional policies and criteria for suitable animals. She will share some of the logistical challenges you may encounter and lessons learned from past experiences.

About OLAW Webinars
The OLAW Online Seminars program is a free webinar series to help IACUCs and IOs explore their responsibilities in the oversight of PHS-funded research that involves the use of live vertebrate animals.

How to Enroll
A one-time enrollment is required to participate in the program. Enrollees receive registration information prior to each event. Find out how to enroll at https://olaw.nih.gov/education/online-seminars.htm.

For recordings of past webinars, visit the Webinars and Podcasts webpage.

IACUC Administrators Association Best Practices Meeting
August 13-14, 2019 | Grand Canyon, AZ

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) will present a Best Practices Meeting on August 13-14, 2019, in Grand Canyon, Arizona. This meeting is for IACUC staff and animal program operations personnel to present and share best practices in the humane care and use of laboratory animals. The theme will be wildlife and field studies.

For additional information, visit IAA  or email wggreer@UMich.edu.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has published the proceedings  from the Roundtable on Science and Welfare in Laboratory Animal Use held on October 22-23, 2018. This workshop examined the availability of marmosets in the US and abroad; welfare and ethical considerations stemming from the use of wildtype and genetically modified marmosets; and standards of housing and care, dietary needs, and feeding requirements for marmosets in captivity.
 
The proceedings highlight some of the advantages of marmosets as animal models in neuroscience, aging, infectious diseases, and other fields of study; and presents guidance for their husbandry, care and management in captivity.

Get the Workshop Proceedings. 

Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals
June 3-4, 2019 | Beltsville, MD

Register now!  Registration closes May 25^th.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn about and discuss the social housing, environmental enrichment, and behavior of laboratory animals. The symposium brings together experts in the behavior and science of laboratory animal species to exchange information with scientists, IACUC members, veterinarians, and animal care technicians about the welfare needs of social laboratory animal species and the means to achieve optimal social housing conditions in a variety of settings.

Plus, you’ll want to register now to participate in a special pre-symposium activity on June 2: Behind the scenes tour of the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Learn more and register! 

The AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals  are intended to help members of the veterinary profession make good decisions that support animal welfare in situations where the difficult decision to depopulate has been made. The recommendations aim to ensure as much consideration is given to animal welfare as practicable within the constraints of an emergency event, such as a natural disaster, hazardous zoonotic disease outbreak, terrorist activity, or radiological incident. These are extraordinary circumstances, when rapid response and the need to prevent further devastation may impose severe constraints that limit available options.

Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE)
Train the Trainer Institute (TTI)
June 4-7, 2019 | Tempe, AZ

Register Here!

Attend the ICARE Train the Trainer Institute – to engage in active learning techniques and learn about IACUC authority, responsibilities, and oversight, risk assessment, regulatory drift, and investigator burden.

Get Trained – by federal, academic, and private sector faculty who are experts in the field. You will work in both large interactive sessions and facilitated breakout groups with the aim to develop training modules that you can use in your institution’s training program.

You Should Attend – if you are an institutional animal care and use program trainer or IACUC administrator. Join us to learn new techniques to refresh your training program!

Learn More About the Program – by visiting ICARE Project.

Register now, this is the only TTI being held this year!

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Project is an initiative of the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, National Science Foundation, and Department of Veterans Affairs.

IACUC 101/301 Workshops
June 26-27, 2019 | Providence, RI

IACUC 101: The Basics is a one-day didactic and interactive exploration of IACUC fundamentals appropriate for new and seasoned IACUC members, IACUC affiliates, and individuals responsible for their institution's animal care program. The course provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of the laws, regulations, and policies that govern the humane care and use of research animals.

IACUC 301: Scenarios is a full day of IACUC scenarios that address a mix of straight forward to complex situations interspersed with Q&A sessions. Topics will include IACUC membership, protocol review, semiannual review, pain and distress, and more.

Learn more at IACUC 101.

Susan Silk, MS, retired as the Director of the Division of Policy and Education (DPE), OLAW, at the end of 2018. She continues to direct the Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Project under contract to OLAW.

Neera Gopee, DVM, PhD, has been appointed the Director of DPE, OLAW. Dr. Gopee joined OLAW in 2016 and has been serving as a Veterinary Medical Officer in the Divisions of Assurances and Compliance Oversight. She received her PhD in Toxicology at the University of Georgia subsequent to attaining her DVM degree from the University of the West Indies. She is a Diplomate of both the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and American Board of Toxicology.

Nicolette Petervary, VMD, has joined DPE, OLAW, as a Veterinary Medical Officer. Prior to joining OLAW, Dr. Petervary served as the National Animal Welfare Specialist for Animal Welfare Operations with USDA, APHIS, Animal Care. She has experience in research and has worked in private small and exotic animal practice. She received her VMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and is a Diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare.

To learn more about OLAW, see About Us.

ICARE Academy
May 7-9, 2019 | Providence, RI

Register now!

Don’t miss this training opportunity at a 3-day ICARE Academy being held on May 7-9 at the Hotel Providence in Providence, RI.

You Should Attend – if you are an IACUC member or staff, Institutional Official, veterinarian, animal facility personnel, administrator, consultant, or compliance and regulatory personnel.

You Will Learn – about IACUC and institutional responsibilities to optimize animal welfare in animal care and use programs, increase compliance, and minimize regulatory burden. Program topics include IACUC functions, reporting, protocol review, risk assessment, PAM, and more!

Can’t make it to Providence? Join us in Alexandria, VA, for a 2-day ICARE Academy on September 10-11, 2019.

To learn more about the ICARE Academies, visit ICARE Project. 

IACUC Administrators Association Best Practices Meeting
May 29-30, 2019 | Denver, CO

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) will present a Best Practices Meeting on May 29-30, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. This meeting is for IACUC staff and animal program operations personnel to present and share best practices in the humane care and use of laboratory animals.

For additional information, visit IAA  or email wggreer@UMich.edu.

Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE)
Train the Trainer Institute (TTI)
June 4-7, 2019 | Tempe, AZ

Learn More & Register!

Are you an IACUC trainer or administrator? Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to enhance the effectiveness of your IACUC training program. Register now for the ICARE TTI on June 4-7 in Tempe, AZ.

Here at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in the heart of vibrant downtown Tempe, you will be coached and mentored by federal, academic, and private sector faculty who are experts in the field. You will work in both large interactive sessions and facilitated breakout groups engaging in active learning techniques to develop teaching modules that you can use for training IACUCs at your institution. See some of the modules that other TTI attendees have developed here: ICARE Training Modules.

Register early, attendance is limited to 36. We encourage registration of 2 or more attendees from an institution as that will facilitate implementation of active learning at the institution.

To learn more about the ICARE TTI, visit ICARE Project.

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Project is an initiative of the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, National Science Foundation, and Department of Veterans Affairs.

SCAW IACUC Training Workshop
May 23, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on May 23, 2019, in Philadelphia, PA. SCAW’s IACUC Training Workshop educates and trains individuals who work with laboratory animals in research, testing and education. They include IACUC members and administrators, Principal Investigators, veterinarians, regulatory personnel and laboratory animal care staff. The regional workshop format lets small groups discuss specific topics that are relevant to IACUC functions. Each workshop is structured in similar design, with slight changes made to meet local needs.

For program, registration and accommodation information, visit SCAW IACUC Training Workshops.

Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals
June 3-4, 2019 | Beltsville, MD

Learn More & Register 

The 6^th Annual Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals will be held June 3-4, 2019, in Beltsville, MD. The goal of this symposium series is to bring together experts in the behavior and science of laboratory animal species to exchange information with scientists, IACUC members, veterinarians, and animal care technicians about the welfare needs of social laboratory animal species and the means to achieve optimal social housing conditions in a variety of settings.

Register early to participate in a special pre-symposium activity on June 2: Behind the scenes tour of the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal Welfare Act: A Workshop
May 15-16, 2019 | Beltsville, MD

The USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) teaches a one and a half day workshop at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, MD, for individuals who are responsible for providing information to meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The workshop is targeted for principal investigators, members of IACUCs, information providers, administrators of animal use programs, and veterinarians.

Course objectives are to provide:

• Overview of the AWA and its information requirements
• Review of the alternatives concept
• Introduction to NAL, AWIC and other organizations
• Instruction on the use of existing information databases/networks
• On-line database searching experience

For more information, go to http://awic.nal.usda.gov/workshops.

Three I’s, Biosecurity & Research Integrity Conference
April 29 – May 1, 2019 | Portsmouth, NH

The Three I’s, Biosecurity & Research Integrity Conference: Promoting the Responsible Conduct of Research, Partnership, Ethics, Best Practices and the Exploration of Current Trends will be held April 29 – May 1 in Portsmouth, NH. The conference will address the complex challenges that touch the IACUC, IBC and IRB communities — issues relating to research integrity, ethics, communications and social media, importing/exporting and much, much more. It’s essential for the collaboration that drives the research community forward, enabling attendees to work smarter, not harder.

For more information, visit Research Integrity Symposium.

OLAW Webinar: Superstar Rats Teach Empathy to Researchers
March 21, 2019 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

In this webinar, Dr. Cathy Schuppli from the University of British Columbia will talk about a novel approach for promoting compassion among animal researchers. After showcasing her superstar rats that were trained to participate in complex tasks, researchers were amazed by the rats' intelligence, personalities, and relationship with their handlers. All believed that this experience fostered empathetic views and provided ways of reducing stress in rats.

About OLAW Webinars
The OLAW Online Seminars program is a free webinar series to help IACUCs and IOs explore their responsibilities in the oversight of PHS-funded research that involves the use of live vertebrate animals.

How to Enroll
A one-time enrollment is required to participate in the program. Enrollees receive registration information prior to each event. Find out how to enroll at https://olaw.nih.gov/education/online-seminars.htm.

For recordings of past webinars, visit the Webinars and Podcasts webpage.

FASEB Webinar: Streamlining Institutional Requirements for Animal Research
March 18, 2019 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT

Register Here! 

During this webinar, OLAW and USDA will join representatives from institutional animal welfare and compliance offices to help clarify what is and is not required by the federal government in an effort to reduce regulatory burden while maintaining high standards of animal care. The discussion will center on a 2018 survey conducted by the Council on Governmental Relations on actions that could be taken to reduce administrative burden associated with animal research and IACUCs at the institution level. The survey report suggests that institutions are more likely to take action to reduce administrative burden when federal agencies standardize requirements, provide clear directives and address uncertainty.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the March 2019 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic: Showtime! Should an IACUC oversee companion animal exhibition activities on campus? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48. (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.

The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR) will hold the 2019 Regional IACUC Conference on April 4, 2019, in Bellevue, WA, in conjunction with PRIM&R’s IACUC Conference. This one-day conference for IACUC members, veterinarians, animal care staff and researchers covers hot topics related to animal care and use, led by facilitators from around the U.S.

This year, the NWABR IBC conference will be held in parallel to take advantage of the speakers and interest. Attendees will be able to freely move between the two venues. Some of the plenary sessions will be crossover events specifically designed for both IACUC and IBC audiences in line with the theme of this joint event - Better Together.

Learn more at the NWABR IACUC Conference. 

PRIM&R IACUC Conference
April 2-3, 2019 | Bellevue, WA

The Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) 2019 IACUC Conference will be held April 2-3, with pre-conference programs on April 1, in Bellevue, WA. Learn more. 

This two-day conference covers topics relevant to all those involved in the fields of animal care and use and research ethics. Through keynote addresses, engaging and stimulating panels, and highly practical breakout sessions, attendees will gain important insights and fresh strategies to help with their day-to-day work within their animal care and use programs. Attendees will also increase their knowledge and understanding of ethical requirements, learn best practices in the field, and sharpen their skills for dealing with both late-breaking and longstanding challenges around the conduct of ethical animal research.

For program, registration, and accommodation information, visit https://www.primr.org/iacuc19/ 

ICARE Academy
May 7-9, 2019 | Providence, RI

Training for IACUC Members and Animal Program Personnel – Register Now!

Learning objectives

• Validate the responsibilities and authorities conferred on IACUCs by federal law
• Evaluate the contribution of IACUC policies to animal welfare, regulatory drift, and investigator burden
• Identify resources that may be used to increase IACUC function efficiency
• Explain federal standards and ethical considerations in protocol review
• Describe effective post approval review methodologies
• Formulate a strategy for implementing the concepts learned
• Develop behaviors that lead to better communications within the IACUC and between the IACUC, investigators, and Institutional Officials

What to Expect
The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Academies use active learning and backward design to train IACUC members, staff, and institutional animal program personnel to meet their responsibilities for animal welfare oversight. Attendees will work in both large interactive sessions and small facilitated breakout groups. In all of the sessions, attendees will engage in learning activities such as interactive presentations, group work, and discussions.

Who Should Attend
Participation is open to those involved in U.S. animal care and use programs, including IACUC members and staff, IOs, veterinarians, animal facilities personnel, administrators, consultants, and compliance and regulatory personnel.

Program & Registration
To learn more about the program and how to register, visit ICARE Project.

Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals
June 3-4, 2019 | Beltsville, MD

Save the date – registration coming soon!

The 6^th Annual Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals will be held June 3-4, 2019, in Beltsville, MD. The goal of this symposium series is to bring together experts in the behavior and science of laboratory animal species to exchange information with scientists, IACUC members, veterinarians, and animal care technicians about the welfare needs of social laboratory animal species and the means to achieve optimal social housing conditions in a variety of settings. 

The format includes 2 days of lectures in the morning followed by interactive breakout sessions in the afternoon. These lectures give participants a strong foundation in the relevant research underlying socialization and behavioral management efforts, while the breakout sessions allow participants to get feedback specific to their own facilities from experts and colleagues.

Learn more at: http://caat.jhsph.edu/programs/workshops/social_housing_2019.html 

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the February 2019 issue, A Word from OLAW and APHIS responds to the topic: All in the barn: who oversees agricultural research animals? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48. (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.

OLAW invites applicants for the position of Animal Welfare Policy Scientist in the Division of Policy and Education in Bethesda, MD. The focus of this position is to facilitate compliance with laboratory animal welfare requirements of the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy) through the development of policy clarification and guidance and implementation of training and educational programs on the care and use of laboratory animals. The ideal candidate will have Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) experience, technical knowledge, and scientific understanding of biomedical research best practices.

OLAW provides guidance and interpretation of the PHS Policy, supports educational programs, and monitors compliance with the Policy by assured institutions and PHS funding components to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported research, testing, and training, thereby contributing to the quality of PHS-supported activities.

For information about the salary and benefits, qualifications, and how to apply, see job announcement number NIH-SR-DH-19-10411977 http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/523962500 at www.USAJOBS.gov.

Applications accepted February 11-14, 2019. For questions about the announcement, email Nathaniel Balsley at balsleyng@mail.nih.gov and reference the announcement number. HHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.

Report on Site Visits to the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers with Focus on Canine Care and Use in Research

An OLAW report on site visits to the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) is now available and can be downloaded at VAMC Site Visits Report (PDF). The report summarizes the results of site visits to four VAMCs. At each site visit, OLAW assessed institutional compliance with the standards of the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide). While the site visits focused on dogs used in the VAMCs’ research, an overall animal care and use program review was conducted. See also NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-19-069.

Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal Welfare Act: A Workshop
March 13-14, 2019 | Beltsville, MD

The USDA Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) teaches a one and a half day workshop at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, MD, for individuals who are responsible for providing information to meet the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The workshop is targeted for principal investigators, members of IACUCs, information providers, administrators of animal use programs, and veterinarians.

Course objectives are to provide:

• Overview of the AWA and its information requirements
• Review of the alternatives concept
• Introduction to NAL, AWIC and other organizations
• Instruction on the use of existing information databases/networks
• On-line database searching experience

For more information, go to http://awic.nal.usda.gov/workshops.

ICARE Academy
February 7-8, 2019 | Dallas, TX

Are you an IACUC member or staff, Institutional Official, veterinarian, animal facility personnel, administrator, consultant, or compliance and regulatory personnel? Don’t miss this training opportunity at the ICARE Academy being held on February 7-8 at the Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West in Dallas, Texas. Here you will be coached and mentored by federal, academic and private sector faculty who are experts in the field. You will work in both large interactive sessions and facilitated breakout groups engaging in active learning techniques to learn about IACUC and institutional responsibilities to optimize animal welfare in animal care and use programs.

Register Now! Space is still available, but attendance is limited to 36.

To learn more about the ICARE Academy, visit ICARE Project.

NIH announced a 15 day extension to the comment period on the draft report from the Working Group on Reducing Administrative Burden to Researchers for Animal care and Use in Research in NOT-OD-19-057. The comment period will now close on February 20, 2019.

All comments must be submitted electronically by February 20, 2019, at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=83.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the January 2019 issue, A Word from APHIS and OLAW responds to the topic: Misunderstanding of an MOU? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2019; Vol 48. (PDF)

To further explore this and other topics, browse the OLAW Topic Index. For additional information, visit OLAW.