The long-awaited goal of AAALAC accreditation is almost within reach. The Division of Research, the Environmental Health and Safety Department and animal researchers have been collaborating to prepare FAU for this milestone for several years.

 

An evaluation team from the Association for Assessment Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) provided positive feedback during an October visit to several labs across FAU campuses and facilities. In December, a final program description was submitted to the Animal Research Protections Program of AAALAC. The next step is for AAALAC to conduct its official site visit to FAU from Monday, Feb. 12 through Wednesday, Feb. 14.

 

AAALAC has finalized its agenda and researchers can expect site visits to labs as listed here.

The FAU Diving and Boating Safety Committee is conducting a survey of FAU principal investigators (PIs) who use FAU-owned or approved private boats in their university sanctioned activities. The survey's goal is to identify programmatic functions (training, equipment, administrative procedures) of FAU's boating program that can be improved to increase safety and reduce impediments to research and teaching activities. A link to this survey has been sent out to faculty members of FAU's boating community. If you are a boater and have not received the survey, click here to complete it. Add your contact information at the end to join the boater distribution list.

1. Promptly respond to the modifications requested by the IRB
2. Access "Form 05 - Response to Modifications Required" in IRBNet (Forms and Templates)
3. List the IRB questions and responses on Form 05
4. "Create a New Package" to the existing project
5. Upload Form 05 and remember to include additional information, including revised documents
6. Obtain Principal Investigator's signature and click "submit"

Research Integrity offers various training sessions year-round that are open to faculty, graduate and  undergraduate students, postdoctoral scholars, research administrators, lab managers and others working closely with research projects.

The IRB session walks attendees through the process of submitting a research protocol, including mandatory  training, required documents and navigating the IRBNet portal used to submit reviews. To register on the IRB training calendar, click here .

The IACUC workshop has two components incorporating theoretical as well as applied experience. The ethics component provides background on the ethical requirements of conducting animal research, while the hands-on component offers training in surgical practice and procedures. To register on the IACUC training calendar, click here.