Office of Research Integrity
The 91原创 Office of Research Integrity (ORI), under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR), facilitates the responsible conduct of research through educational, preventive, outreach, and service activities. ORI provides administrative support for the Institutional Official, IACUC, and researchers. The VCR is the 91原创 Institutional Official charged with overseeing the animal care program. In support of the IACUC, ORI sets meeting agendas, takes minutes, drafts inspection and program evaluation reports, manages IACUC correspondence, distributes and tracks all IACUC submissions, and maintains IACUC files and databases. In addition, the ORI serves as the point of contact for faculty, staff, students, the public, and regulators for all questions and concerns associated with the care and use of live vertebrates at 91原创 or by 91原创 researchers at other locations.
ORI staff serve as subject area experts on institutional and regulatory requirements associated with the care and use of animals in research, teaching, and testing activities. ORI staff are available to meet with faculty, staff, and students on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, the following:
- State and federal laws, regulations, and guidelines:
- Permit requirements
- Import or export of live animals or tissues
- Interstate transfers of live animals
- Controlled substances
- IACUC & 91原创 Institutional Policies
- IACUC forms & processes:
- Preliminary reviews (before distribution to the IACUC)
- Requesting Modifications
- Progress Reports
- IRBNet - the web-based submission and management system used by the 91原创 IACUC
- Compliance concerns
- Training requirements
- Occupational health & safety concerns
Most funding agencies do NOT require IACUC approval of animal activities at the time of proposal but rather at the time of the award. ORI works with the Office Grants & Contracts Administration (OGCA) to meet sponsor requirements. ORI works with OGCA to flag potential animal care issues at the proposal stage so that everyone knows what will be required if the proposal is funded. ORI works with OGCA to ensure that IACUC approval is obtained before award funds are released, and that approval is maintained for the duration of the work involving live vertebrates.
IACUC review and oversight is the responsibility of the institution receiving the award; responsibility follows the money. That means that 91原创 sub-awardees or subcontractors are typically responsible for obtaining approval from their own IACUC. However, when the work is performed jointly by researchers from two or more institutions, ORI can often make arrangements (via an Inter-Institutional Agreement) for one institution's IACUC to take the lead, which may prevent researchers from having to apply to multiple IACUCs for approval of the same work.
Non-91原创 personnel working on a 91原创 protocol require an Independent Investigator Agreement when there is no Inter-Institutional Agreement. This agreement formalizes the individual's willingness and intent to abide by all 91原创 policies, procedures, and the approved protocol(s).
The electronic submission system IRBNet sends email notifications to principal investigators about approaching deadlines of their Protocols (i.e., expiration dates and progress report deadlines). Reminders are automatically issued 60, 30, and 7 days before the expiration date specified in the original protocol approval. The ORI will also notify new personnel of training and occupational health and safety program requirements related to their assigned duties.
ORI manages the online training program through on behalf of the IACUC. ORI personnel are responsible for directing new personnel to the training program and verifying training is completed before issuing protocol approval letters.
Training in the care and use of animals is a required element of 91原创's Assurance of Compliance with Public Health Service Policy on the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Assurance), on file with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW).
91原创 Policy #04-004 mandates participation in the Occupational Health & Safety Program (OHSP) for 91原创 Animal Facilities. ORI is responsible for the management and oversight of this component of the 91原创 OHSP and works closely with the Department of Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management (EHSRM), which oversees the rest of the 91原创 OHSP.
Complete the for initial enrollment in the OHSP. Further program requirements are determined based on an administrative review of the information. More information about the OHSP is available from this website's Occupational Health and Safety Program section. The OHSP for 91原创 Animal Facilities, like the training program described above, is a required component of 91原创's PHS Assurance with OLAW.
The Anchorage Resident Office, Seattle Field Division, Diversion Control Office, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) oversees and enforces controlled substances regulations in 91原创. The Anchorage Resident Office has determined that the 91原创 research institutes may hold research registrations for schedule II-V substances. Field offices in other areas have made other determinations.
The Vice Chancellor of Research (VCR) is responsible for authorizing and overseeing all uses of controlled substances under the institute's registration. Please contact the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) for assistance before applying for a Research Registration. ORI coordinates with the Veterinary Services in the oversight of controlled substances at 91原创 since they are primarily used in the conduct of animal research; however, ORI can advise on individual research registrations (typically for schedule I substances), drug storage lockers/safes, transport and export of controlled substances.
All concerns related to the care and use of live animals at 91原创 or by 91原创 faculty at other locations should be reported to the IACUC. To facilitate reporting, the IACUC offers a Compliance report template; however, you may also express your concerns directly in-person, by telephone or email to any member of ORI or the IACUC.