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.

Request for Information: Input on Draft Report from Working Group on Reducing Administrative Burden to Researchers for Animal Care and Use in Research

NIH is seeking your input on the draft report and proposed recommendations by the 21^st Century Cures Act, Section 2034(d) Working Group on Reducing Administrative Burden to Researchers for Animal Care and Use in Research. The request is a coordinated effort of the Director of NIH, in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to reduce administrative burden on investigators while maintaining the integrity and credibility of research findings and protection of research animals.

To find the draft report and learn more about the information requested, see NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-19-028 and Federal Register Notice 2018-26557.

To ensure consideration, responses must be submitted by February 5, 2019 at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=83.

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

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
Attendance is limited to 36, so register early. 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.

OLAW Webinar: Semiannual Program Review
December 13, 2018 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Is your semiannual program review effective and meaningful? Are your IACUC members engaged in the process? Does it give them a sense of how the program functions? Or are you “just checking the box” and going through the motions to satisfy the regulations? In this webinar, Dawn O’Connor and Bill Greer from the University of Michigan will share their experiences on how to perform an effective, cross-functional, and engaging program review.

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.

Reminder: OLAW Annual Reports due January 31, 2019

Annual reports for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 are due to OLAW by January 31, 2019 as required by the PHS Policy.

What to Include

As with previous annual reports, the information to be reported consists of any change in the institution’s program of animal care and use, any change in the Institutional Official or IACUC membership, the dates that the IACUC conducted its semiannual evaluations of the program and facilities, and any minority view by an IACUC member.

How to Submit

Email the signed annual report in PDF format to olawarp@mail.nih.gov by January 31, 2019 (but not before December 31, 2018). If you have questions or need assistance, contact OLAW at 301-496-7163 or olawdoa@mail.nih.gov.

Learn More

Additional information, instructions, and sample document can be found on the Annual Report to OLAW webpage. See also the OLAW Online Seminar, The Annual Report to OLAW.

SCAW Winter Conference
December 3-4, 2018 | San Antonio, TX

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present the 2018 Winter Conference on December 3-4, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas. This year’s topic “Back to the Future, Science and Animal Welfare” commemorates SCAW’s 40^th Anniversary. The two-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 agricultural animals in research.

For program, registration and accommodation information, visit the 2018 Winter Conference.

NJABR IACUC 25 Conference
November 9, 2018 | Somerset, NJ

The New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research (NJABR) will hold the IACUC 25 Conference on November 9, 2018 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, while reducing regulatory burden, cutting red tape and creating efficiencies within institutions.

IACUC 25 will open with a keynote presentation from Paula Clifford, Executive Director of Americans for Medical Progress about the importance of collaboration, openness, and transparency among organizations and institutions seeking to advance scientific discovery. The morning session will also feature presentations and a moderated panel discussion with regulatory experts in the field, including representatives from AAALAC, USDA, and OLAW. Highlighting the morning plenary session will be a presentation discussing outsourcing animal studies and ensuring animal welfare led by NJABR member institution representatives.

For additional information, see IACUC 25: The Charge & The Challenge. 

IACUC 101/201/301 Workshops
November 7-9, 2018 | Delray Beach, FL

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. 

The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) is now accepting proposals for the 2019 Science-Based Refinement Awards.

A new priority of the CAAT Refinement Program is to help fund systematic reviews of frequently used and/or severe animal models to either refine them – if proven valid – or, when they are not representative for the intended purpose (e.g., to model a specific human malady), to demonstrate their weaknesses in an unbiased manner.

CAAT continues to fund non-invasive animal research projects to enhance the housing, handling, and/or experimental procedures for laboratory animals or that can reduce animal use. Hence, the small grants are intended for those who work hands-on with animals, such as animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and animal care technicians, as well as for researchers who conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal studies. 

For information and application instructions, see CAAT Refinement Awards

USDA launches new online submission process for the Annual Report

In response to requests from the regulated community, USDA is launching the beta version of an online Animal Care portal in October 2018. Research facility representatives are invited to be the first users of the new system. If you choose to submit your Annual Report online this year, you will need the appropriate USDA login credentials to ensure that access to your organization’s information remains secure. Postcards will be sent to every Research Facility to advise them of the eAuthentication process. However, hard copy packets and forms will be mailed to every Research Facility, as usual, in case you wish to use the traditional reporting method.

Information on the process can be found on the USDA-APHIS website at Online Annual Reporting.

Care, Use and Welfare of Marmosets as Animal Models for Gene Editing-based Biomedical Research: A Workshop

October 22-23, 2018 | Washington, DC

Join the ILAR Roundtable for a free 2-day workshop on October 22-23, 2018, to explore and address concerns related to the increasing popularity of marmosets as animal models. The workshop will feature discussions on the availability and genetic diversity of marmosets; presentations on their use as research models; elements of marmoset husbandry and veterinary care; and ethical and welfare considerations regarding the use of marmosets in research. Invited speakers and discussants will contribute perspectives from government, academia, industry, and nonprofit sectors at the global and national level. Click here to download the agenda  (PDF).

The workshop will be held at the Keck Center, 500 5^th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Learn more and register today! 

In addition to the health and safety of people and animals in programs the NIH supports, there is also a deep concern about the health of the biomedical enterprise in the affected area when disaster hits. The NIH is committed to working with researchers and institutions to ensure that NIH-funded research continues.

The NIH Extramural Response to Natural Disasters has a list of available resources in response to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence including guidance on animal welfare issues. Investigators whose research depends on animal resources should coordinate closely with respective Institutional Officials and IACUCs to ensure recovery efforts proceed in a humane and scientifically appropriate manner. See also the reminder in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-18-231.

SCAW IACUC Training Workshop
October 19, 2018 | Salt Lake City, UT

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on October 19, 2018, in Salt Lake City, UT. 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.

OLAW Webinar

Monitoring for Humane Endpoints: Developing an Appropriate Strategy
September 20, 2018 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Balancing animal well-being with the needs of research projects can be challenging with some animal models. Do you know how to assess pain and distress? Or evaluate the use and appropriateness of humane endpoints? Are research personnel adequately trained to recognize these signs? In this webinar, Debra Hickman from Indiana University will provide foundational information from current literature to assist veterinary and research personnel in the development and implementation of study appropriate humane endpoints.

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.

ICARE Academy
September 12-13, 2018 | Aurora, CO

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 12-13, in Aurora, Colorado. 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.

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Project is a federal multiagency initiative to empower IACUCs and their institutions to increase compliance with federal standards while minimizing regulatory burden through our active learning workshops.

SCAW IACUC Training Workshop
September 28, 2018 | New York City, NY

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on September 28, 2018, 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. 

ICARE Academy
September 12-13, 2018 | Denver, CO

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. ICARE Academies empower the learner to assume accountability for facts and conceptual understanding of Federal standards through the study of realistic problems encountered in animal care and use programs.

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
Attendance is limited to 36, so register early. To learn more about the program and how to register, visit ICARE Project.

The OLAW office has moved. Please note our new mailing address:

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
National Institutes of Health
6700B Rockledge Drive, Suite 2500, MSC 6910
Bethesda, MD 20892
[20817 zip code for delivery service]

Our phone numbers and email addresses remain the same. For more information, see Contact Us.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the July 2018 issue, A Word from APHIS and OLAW responds to the topic: Who gets to be a PI? Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(07). (PDF)

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

IACUC 101 and 201 Workshops will be held August 1-2, 2018 in Portland, Maine. Register Here! 

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: Facility Inspections
June 28, 2018 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Does your IACUC know what to look for during a facility inspection and which facilities they need to inspect? Are they able to assess animal welfare issues and health concerns? In this webinar, Dawn O’Connor and William Greer from the University of Michigan will share their experiences on how to perform effective, efficient, and compliant facility inspections.

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. 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 resource webpage.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the June 2018 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic “What’s the appropriate adjustment when an approved drug is in short supply?” Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(06). (PDF)

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

IACUC Administrators Best Practices Meeting
July 17-18, 2018 | Fairbanks, AK

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) will present a Best Practices Meeting on July 17-18, 2018, in Fairbanks, Alaska. 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.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the May 2018 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic “Protocols for pets: what authority does an IACUC have?” Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(05). (PDF)

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

We have redesigned the OLAW website to help you find information more easily. Although we have a new look, the content of our main topic areas has not changed. The links to our Policies and Laws, Guidance, Education, and Resources are now at the top of the homepage for easy access. Also featured on the homepage are fast facts, news, and how to get connected. We hope that you find the new design helpful and that you can quickly locate what you are looking for.

While we continue to fine tune the site, let us know how we are doing. For comments or issues with page contents, email OLAW. If you experience technical problems, please contact the OER webmaster.

Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals
June 4-5, 2018 | Beltsville, MD

Register now  for the 5^th Annual Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals being held June 4-5, 2018, in Beltsville, MD. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn about and discuss the social housing, environmental enrichment, and behavior of laboratory animals.

This year’s symposium starts with a keynote on play behavior and positive affective states in several species, followed by talks focusing on the specific housing needs of rabbits, swine, and rodents. The afternoon will commence with input from the USDA, OLAW, and AAALAC regarding current policies and guidance, followed by a breakout session where you’ll will have the opportunity to discuss the challenges and special issues you are facing at your institution.

The second day begins with housing considerations and harm/benefit analysis and will then cover the current best practices for the social housing of old world monkeys. In the afternoon, you will learn about the psychological well-being of fish before ending with another breakout session.

Plus, you’ll want to register early to participate in a special pre-symposium activity on June 3: visit to the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Learn more and register at http://caat.jhsph.edu/programs/workshops/social_housing.html 

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the April 2018 issue, A Word from OLAW provides guidance on significant changes in response to the topic “Is ‘saving money’ a valid justification?” Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(04). (PDF)

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

ICARE Academy (3-day)
Training for IACUC Members and Animal Program Personnel
June 18-20, 2018 | Chicago, IL

Register Now!

Can’t make it to Chicago? A few spaces remain for the May ICARE Academy in Newport Beach and registration just opened for the September ICARE Academy in Denver.

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.

What to Expect

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Academies use active learning techniques that are proven to increase the effectiveness of adult education by engaging the learner in hands-on activities that require the application of high-level concepts. Participants will work in both large interactive sessions and small facilitated breakout groups participating in learning activities including interactive presentations and discussions.

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

Program & Registration

Attendance is limited to 36, so register early. To learn more about the program and how to register, visit ICARE Project.

Read how IACUCs can help enhance research rigor and reproducibility in the March 2018 issue of JAALAS. In this article, the authors explore the contributions of the various IACUC members and discuss how each can help to enhance rigor and mitigate issues regarding irreproducibility in biomedical research involving animals.

Download the article here: JAALAS 2018; 57(02) (PDF)

IACUC 101 and 301 Workshops will be held June 13-14, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. Register Here! 

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. 

The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW) will present an IACUC Training Workshop on June 5, 2018, in Augusta, GA. 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. 

The 5^th Annual Symposium on Social Housing of Laboratory Animals will be held June 4-5, 2018, 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.

Register early to participate in a special pre-symposium activity on June 3: Visit to the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

Learn more and register at http://caat.jhsph.edu/programs/workshops/social_housing.html 

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) will present a Best Practices Meeting on May 30-31, 2018, in San Diego, CA. 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.

Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal Welfare Act: A Workshop

May 9-10, 2018 | 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
May 8-9, 2018 | Newport Beach, CA

Training for U.S. 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 ICARE Academy uses active learning techniques that are proven to increase the effectiveness of adult education by engaging the learner in hands-on activities that require the application of high-level concepts. Participants will work in both large interactive sessions and small facilitated breakout groups participating in learning activities including interactive presentations 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
Attendance is limited to 36, so register early. To learn more about the program, 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.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the March 2018 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic “Post-publication problems: how to proceed when there’s no record of IACUC approval?” Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(03). (PDF)

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

March 29, 2018 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Are you fully prepared before you head out to conduct your wildlife field work? Are all the students or other research staff trained and capable to perform euthanasia should an animal be injured or found moribund? Planning and training to relieve suffering of vertebrate animals should be part of every protocol submitted for IACUC review prior to conducting field work. In this webinar, Tracy Thompson, IACUC Chair and Attending Veterinarian at the National Park Service, will review methods that can be used in the field to euthanize injured or ill wildlife, in the hope it will never be needed.

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. A one-time enrollment is required to participate in the program. Enrollees receive registration information prior to each event. Find out more at https://olaw.nih.gov/education/online-seminars.htm. For past webinars, visit the archive on the Education Resources webpage.

NIH in collaboration with USDA and FDA is requesting your input on proposed actions to improve coordination and harmonization of regulations and policies with respect to research with laboratory animals as required by the 21^st Century Cures Act, Section 2034(d): Animal Care and Use in Research. The request is a coordinated effort of the Director of NIH in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to reduce administrative burden on investigators while maintaining the integrity and credibility of research findings and protection of research animals.

To learn more about the information requested, see NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-18-152 and Federal Register Notice 2018-05173.

To ensure consideration, responses must be submitted by June 12, 2018 at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=71

ICARE Academy & Advanced Train the Trainer Institute

May 7-9, 2018 | Newport Beach, CA

Register Now!

ICARE Academies (AI) use active learning and backward design to train IACUC members, staff, and institutional animal program personnel to meet their responsibilities for animal welfare oversight. ICARE Academies empower the learner to assume accountability for facts and conceptual understanding of Federal standards through the study of realistic problems encountered in animal care and use programs.

Advanced Train the Trainer Institutes (ATTI) offer advanced training in the use of active learning, backward design, and scientific teaching applied to IACUC training. The ATTI is offered to individuals that have completed basic training at a Train the Trainer Institute.

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
Attendance is limited to 36, so register early. To learn more about the programs and how to register, visit ICARE Project. See also the 2018 ICARE Project Flyer.

The Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) 2018 IACUC Conference will be held March 20-21, with pre-conference programs on March 19, in Columbus, OH. 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 http://www.primr.org/iacuc18/ 

Three I’s & Biosecurity Conference

March 14-16, 2018 | Chapel Hill, NC

The Three I’s & Biosecurity Conference: Promoting the Responsible Conduct of Research, Partnership, Ethics, Best Practices and the Exploration of Current Trends. 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 Three I’s & Biosecurity.

Meeting the Information Requirements of the Animal Welfare Act: A Workshop

March 13-14, 2018 | 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.

Environmental Enrichment in the 21st Century
ILAR Journal, 2017, Vol. 58(2), pp. 295-307 

In this ILAR Journal review article, the authors discuss the objectives of the environmental enrichment plan for nonhuman primates along with relevant outcome measures, as well as ongoing challenges, costs, and benefits. They review various enrichment strategies and assess their efficacy in meeting goals and objectives. Finally, they look forward to consider what the future might hold for environmental enrichment of nonhuman primates used in research.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the February 2018 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic “How should the IACUC handle unanticipated deaths?” Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(02). (PDF)

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

NIH and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have participated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare for more than a decade. The agencies share a common interest in the care and welfare of laboratory animals used in research and testing. This agreement provides for coordination and harmonization of agency efforts to ensure appropriate laboratory animal care and welfare. The new MOU is available at NIH-VA MOU.

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) will present a Best Practices Meeting on February 27-28, 2018, in San Antonio, TX. 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 register here .

ICARE Train the Trainer Institute

February 20-23, 2018 | Atlanta, GA

It’s not too late - Register Today!

What to Expect

The Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE) Train the Trainer Institutes (TTI) teach national and institutional trainers to use active learning and backward design in their IACUC training programs. Participants will engage in active learning applied to IACUC subject matter and modules that address the scientific basis of active learning pedagogy. Working in facilitated breakout groups, participants will develop a module that can be used at their home institution.

Learn About

• Regulatory drift and investigator burden
• IACUC authority and responsibilities
• Scope of oversight
• Protocol Review
• Risk aversion

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. See also the 2018 ICARE Project Flyer.

The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research (NWABR) will present the 2018 IACUC Regional Educational Conference on February 27, 2018, in Lynnwood, WA. 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. In addition to the various presentations, there will be a mock IACUC session that will allow conference participants to test their knowledge of the rules and regulations against a panel of experts and regulatory and compliance officials.

Learn more at the NWABR IACUC Conference.

Visit the Guidance section on the OLAW website for updated Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review columns. In the January 2018 issue, A Word from OLAW responds to the topic “How should the IACUC handle a questionable VVC change to a protocol?” Download the column here: Lab Animal 2018; 47(01). (PDF)

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

Interagency Collaborative Animal Research Education (ICARE)

Train the Trainer Institute (TTI)

February 20-23, 2018 | Atlanta, GA

Register Here!

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 February 20-23 in Atlanta, GA. Here at the Peachtree City Hotel & Conference Center, 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) Train the Trainer Institutes are supported by the ICARE Project, an interagency initiative of the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH OLAW), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

5th International Conference of the Basel Declaration Society

Openness and Transparency: Building Trust in Animal Research

February 14-15, 2018 | San Francisco, CA

This conference is an international effort to provide the US research community with:

• Effective tools, strategies, and networks to advance public communication and understanding of the role and value of animal research.
• Focused national discussion with key stakeholders and leaders in research, policy, and science communication about the future of animal research in the US and beyond.
• Opportunity to become part of a nation-wide commitment for proactive communication of animal research as part of a meaningful engagement and dialogue with the public.

Please note that participation at this 2-day conference is free. To register please use the registration tool on the Basel Declaration Society website.