Office of Research Integrity
The UAF 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 UAF 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 UAF or by UAF 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 & UAF 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 UAF 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 UAF 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-UAF personnel working on a UAF 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 UAF 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 CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) 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 UAF'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).
UAF Policy #04-004 mandates participation in the Occupational Health & Safety Program (OHSP) for UAF Animal Facilities. ORI is responsible for the management and oversight of this component of the UAF OHSP and works closely with the Department of Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management (EHSRM), which oversees the rest of the UAF OHSP.
Complete the Personnel Information Form (PIF) 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 UAF Animal Facilities, like the training program described above, is a required component of UAF'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 Alaska. The Anchorage Resident Office has determined that the UAF 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 UAF 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 UAF or by UAF 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.