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A more collegial process that facilitates compliance

Lab Animal volume 50, pages 298–299 (2021)Cite this article

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Assuming GEU is a PHS Assured institution, they must base the program of animal care off the Guide.1 The Guide states that “institutions are responsible for providing appropriate resources to support personnel training (Anderson 2007), and the IACUC is responsible for providing oversight and for evaluating the effectiveness of the training program (Foshay and Tinkey 2007).2” The Guide adds that “all Program personnel training should be documented.2” It should be noted that similar language exists in the Animal Welfare Regulations.3

The regulatory language cited above highlights three elements: who provides training; who validates and ensures training; and documentation of training. However, the language does not prescribe how any of these should be done. Institutions have the flexibility to establish requirements for training, evaluation, and documentation to best meet their needs for the program of animal care. The institution may elect to utilize various resources in the animal care program such as IACUC staff, veterinary staff, skilled research staff, or subject matter experts/consultants to provide the training. Oversight and evaluation of training is charged to the IACUC. Examples for accomplishing that include: IACUC review of the Animal Protocol (e.g. description of personnel experience/qualifications), post-approval monitoring (PAM), formal training program/staff, or other relevant metrics.

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References

  1. Public Health Service. PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Chapter IV, Part C, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 2015).

  2. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th edn. (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2011).

  3. Animal Welfare Regulations CFR Title 9, Subpart C Research Facilities, §2.32 Personnel Qualifications (a) and (b)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Mike Andrews, Gwen Waddingham & Mary Haun

Authors
  1. Mike Andrews
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  2. Gwen Waddingham
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  3. Mary Haun
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Correspondence to Mike Andrews.

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Andrews, M., Waddingham, G. & Haun, M. A more collegial process that facilitates compliance. Lab Anim 50, 298–299 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-021-00868-y

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