May 22, 2019
The Research Protections Office has been undergoing transitions from our current electronic protocol submission software, InfoEd, to Huron’s Click system.
The office rolled out the human subject submission module last fall and we continue the biosafety committee roll-out which began in April of this year.
We are now ready to begin work to transition the IACUC protocols. As the ¶¶Òõ̽̽Click - IACUC implementation progresses, we will use this newsletter format to communicate changes to IACUC processes, timelines, trainings, and transition dates.
IACUC Project Kickoff
An initial telephone conference was held with Huron representatives on May 20, 2019 to discuss the IACUC project plan and timelines.
There will be 1.25 Huron representatives available to ¶¶Òõ̽̽ to assist with this transition. We begin the week of June 3 with an intensive 5-week examination of the system to educate ourselves, identify gaps, request and obtain local changes, etc. Members of the IACUC Committee and internal staff will be part of this initial 5-week immersion.
Reduction in Regulatory Burden
As part of this transition, the IACUC is taking a close look at the recent reduction of regulatory burden topics under the 21st Century Cures Act to see where we can take advantage of the new system to help meet some of those calls for reduction. We have already taken advantage of the VVC where our Vet can approve standardized changes to the protocol without Committee critique. There are also items such as creation of a procedure library for researcher use, a one protocol to many grant scenario as well as other changes that we will be considering in an effort to reduce burden while maintaining adequate oversight of research involving animals at the institution.
To that end, the Committee, at its May 2019 convened meeting, agreed to the following two immediate reduction changes:
1. We will no longer require continuing review of non-USDA species protocols. Triennials with a summary report of activities is still a requirement, but annuals will no longer be required effective immediately. We will discontinue continuing review reminders for these.
- The office will not be processing any continuing reviews that have been received.
2. Effective immediately, we will no longer require 6 year renewals as the transition into the new system will automatically result in an update to your projects.
- The office will continue to process any 6-year projects that have been received and reviewed by the Committee.