Ever wonder what professional development opportunities are coming up? Don’t forget to check the Workshops and Conferences page of the OLAW Website! Currently posted events for spring 2023 include AWIC Workshops, IAA Webinars, the 3Rs Symposium, and the SCAW IACUC Training Workshop.
This webinar was hosted by the NIH Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) office in February 2023 to assist small business applicants (SBIR/STTR) whose research involves the use of live vertebrate animals. It aims to help applicants understand requirements, applicable regulations, and how to avoid potential pitfalls during the application and award process.
Speakers included:
More information about the small business programs (SBIR/STTR) can be found at the SEED website.
May 17-18, 2023 | Virtual
This symposium will focus on reduction, refinement, and replacement methods to improve laboratory animal welfare while maintaining or improving scientific results. It is jointly organized by the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the USDA’s Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) at the National Agricultural Library, and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, National Institutes of Health.
Sessions are designed for investigators, laboratory animal veterinarians, care staff, and IACUC members and staff. Residents, students, and postdocs are also welcome!
Highlights include:
Visit the registration page to view the full agenda!
At the time of triennial protocol review, a protocol is renewed by the institution’s IACUC, but a question arises regarding how animals obtained under the approved numbers for the old protocol carry over into the renewal. Should the numbers of requested animals present in the vivarium at the time of renewal be subtracted from the approved number for the 3-year renewal? What if the animals present in the vivarium have already been used; should they count toward the number left available for use in the triennial renewal? When should in-house animals be considered “used” and subtracted from the approved total? Different points of view can have different consequences for the study. How should the institution proceed, and what light can the USDA regulations, PHS Policy and OLAW guidance shed on this situation?
A researcher whose work involves animals is assigned to a shared lab space. Another user of the space who is visiting from a different institution and whose work is completely unrelated to the animal project develops a severe allergic reaction to the species used in the lab. What should the institution do? What processes could have been in place to prevent the incident? How should the institution proceed?
March 15, 3:00-4:30 PM ET | March 22, 3:00-4:30 PM ET | April 12, 3:00-4:30 PM ET
The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) has announced three upcoming webinars:
Sessions are open to IAA members or may be accessed for a fee. To read more about each webinar and register, visit the IAA homepage and click on each event under “Upcoming Events.” Please direct all questions to the IACUC Administrators Association.
Information regarding this external event is being provided as a courtesy.
On September 24, 2021, the ICARE Project presented an online panel discussion: History of US Animal Welfare Oversight. Panelists shared their longstanding commitment to humane care and use of animals in the conduct of scientific research, including the development, harmonization, and implementation of the PHS Policy and Animal Welfare Act and Regulations, the origin of IACUCs, commitment to performance standards, minimization of administrative burden, and operation of quality animal care and use programs. The webinar and transcript are now posted on the ICARE page of the OLAW website.
About ICARE:
The ICARE Project is an interagency initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This group of federal agencies is involved in the welfare of animals used in research, teaching, and testing in the U.S.
On February 10, 2023, the NIH released a Guide Notice to encourage award recipients to include the ARRIVE Essential 10 (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments)- which are essential elements of study design- in all NIH-supported publications describing vertebrate animal and cephalopod research.
The ARRIVE Essential 10 describes the information that the authors consider “the basic minimum to include in a manuscript, as without this information, reviewers and readers cannot confidently assess the reliability of the findings presented.” This list includes specific details about:
The ARRIVE Guidelines also have a Recommended Set of 10 additional elements for reporting that add important context to the study described.
NIH also has additional resources available for enhancing the rigor of research involving animals. Visit this blog to find out more about these resources.
March 9, 2023 | 1:00-2:00pm ET | Virtual
Do you want more tools to understand good experimental design when reviewing animal use protocols? This webinar will focus on approaches for the IACUC to effectively evaluate study design, animal numbers, and statistical descriptions in animal protocols. By focusing on concepts rather than mathematical equations, this webinar is for all IACUC members regardless of scientific or statistical background.
In this webinar, attendees will learn to:
Dr. Penny Reynolds will base this webinar on her article, "Statistics, Statistical Thinking, and the IACUC."
The recording and transcript of the January 19, 2023, webinar titled “MOUs for Collaborating Institutions: New Template from the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP)” has been posted.
|
|
About the webinar:
Members of FDP worked with OLAW, USDA, and the VA to craft a memorandum of understanding that aligns with the expectations of the Guide. This MOU is provided as a resource and is not required by OLAW. However, institutions may find it useful in helping to navigate collaborations when animal responsibilities are shared between institutions. In this webinar, representatives from FDP and OLAW discussed the FDP’s new resources and OLAW answered questions about using the MOU template.
Are you looking for more resources on animal welfare, IACUC functions, protocol development, and animal care and use? Visit the updated webpage for an extensive list of resources, including:
… and more!
Angelina Williams, DVM, MPH, DACLAM joins OLAW’s Office of the Director
OLAW is excited to welcome Dr. Angelina Williams to the Office of the Director. Dr. Williams is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine and her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center. Upon completion of her veterinary degree, Angelina was a general veterinary practitioner in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She later completed a Comparative Medicine veterinary residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center and has worked as a laboratory animal veterinarian for over 12 years in academia, industry, and zoological settings. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys running, playing volleyball, and volunteering with her sorority.
Ge’Vonna Keyes joins OLAW’s Division of Assurances
OLAW is also pleased to welcome Ms. Ge’Vonna Keyes to the Division of Assurances as a Program Analyst. Ge’Vonna earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University and an Associate in Studio Art from Montgomery College. She had been serving as a contract Program Analyst in the office since August 2021.
In this scenario, the Attending Veterinarian terminates a lab member’s animal access until the IACUC can convene an emergency meeting to discuss an incident of noncompliance. However, this lab member is the only one who can perform specialized procedures required for the protocol, and the research must be halted until the IACUC can review the facts. The committee wonders- should this technically be called a “suspension?”
February 14-15, 2023 | 12:00pm-4:00pm ET | Virtual
Don't forget to register for the next IACUC 101 Plus virtual program! This workshop will be held over two half-days on February 14-15 and includes didactic and interactive learning opportunities for both new and seasoned IACUC members, IACUC affiliates, and individuals responsible for their institution's animal care and use program. The course provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of institutional responsibilities, IACUC functions, laws and regulations, and best practices in the humane care and use of research animals. Be sure to tune in to learn more about special considerations for wildlife research and to hear regulatory and accreditation updates from OLAW, USDA, and AAALAC International.
This event is provided by IACUC 101.
As part of the 21st Century Cures Act OLAW committed to reviewing and revising the guidance for reporting noncompliance. The proposed revisions are now available for public comment through a Request for Information (RFI). The final guidance will be published along with a new webpage once comments have been considered. OLAW expects institutions to comply with NOT-OD-05-034 until the new guidance is finalized. Visit this OLAW website for more details.
The proposed changes can be found here: NOT-OD-23-063
Comments should be submitted online: Submit Here
Comments will be accepted from January 23, 2023 - May 5, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is a Request for Information (RFI)?
The RFI is a notice of the development of new guidance and a request for stakeholder input before it is finalized.
2. When will these changes take effect?
After the comment period, OLAW carefully reviews all the comments and adjusts the proposed guidance as necessary. Institutions are expected to adhere to the current guidance until the final guidance is available.
3. Where should I go for information on the current requirements for reporting noncompliance?
Information on current guidance can be found on the OLAW website on the "Reporting Noncompliance” page.
Be sure to check out OLAW’s updated listserv webpage to view helpful tips on how to manage your subscription!
May 17-19, 2023 | Virtual and In-Person at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Save the date for this year’s 3Rs Symposium! This year will focus on practical strategies to implement alternatives and refinements in research. The Symposium will be offered both virtually and in-person; registration details will be available closer to the time of the event.
This event is sponsored by:
In case you missed the OLAW webinar last week, you can view the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Template from the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) on the OLAW website and read additional clarification regarding MOUs and Inter-Institutional Agreements (IIAs). A recording of the webinar will be available on OLAW’s webinar page after accessibility processing.
Frequently asked questions:
1. Is the new MOU template required?
No. The use of the template is not required and is only provided for the convenience of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Assured institutions.
2. Why would my institution want to use MOUs?
The Guide states that a “formal written understanding” (e.g., an MOU document) “should” be used when institutions collaborate on activities involving animals. “Should” indicates a strong recommendation for achieving a goal, understanding that individual circumstances might justify an alternative strategy.
3. Is additional guidance available from OLAW on MOUs?
OLAW has previously provided guidance regarding MOUs in this FAQ (scroll down to see the FAQ that opens).
Save the date for the next IACUC 101 Plus virtual program! This workshop will be held over two half-days and includes didactic and interactive learning opportunities for both new and seasoned IACUC members, IACUC affiliates, and individuals responsible for their institution's animal care and use program. The course provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of institutional responsibilities, IACUC functions, laws and regulations, and best practices in the humane care and use of research animals. Be sure to tune in to learn more about special considerations for wildlife research and to hear regulatory and accreditation updates from OLAW, USDA, and AAALAC International.
Registration will be open closer to the time of the event at the IACUC 101 website.
NIH Grants and Funding
