Purchasing laboratory management software may seem like the obvious fix for an institution’s productivity. Robust software that streamlines processes and improves workflow are highly valued and touted as a must-have for any organization with an animal research program. However, the work doesn’t end once the software is installed and users are trained. Over time, software …
The Importance of Regular Software Health Checks Read More »
Animal Care and Use Programs are typically an expensive but necessary part of any organization’s research program. Between animals, personnel, infrastructure and equipment, organizations have a great deal already invested. That is why it is critical that Programs run smoothly and remediation costs are avoided as much as possible. What are Remediation Costs? Remediation costs …
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the Clarification of Institutional Responsibilities Regarding Grant to Protocol Congruency (NOT-OD-20-153). This clarification is being provided in part due to the 21st Century Cures Act (21CCA). As a reminder, the Cures Act is a law that was enacted in 2016 authorizing …
Institutional Responsibilities – Grant to Protocol Congruency Read More »
On May 21st, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) made an exciting announcement that it is updating the reporting period for the Annual Report in order to harmonize with the Annual Report required for the USDA (NOT-OD-20-109). This is a direct outcome of the 21st Century Cures Act (21CCA) and, notably, it is the …
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that normal operations can be disrupted at any time to varying degrees as a result of completely unforeseeable or underestimated events. This is why animal care and use programs must have disaster and business continuity plans. But even the best-laid plans will never cover every scenario, …
We’re getting close to that time of year again! TOPAZ will be at the 2019 National AALAS meeting in Denver, as always. We’ll be at booth 838, so stop by to chat about Elements or just to say “hi” (and grab a cool giveaway)! This year we are, once again, following AALAS with our annual …
An important part of reporting to OLAW for PHS fund recipient institutions is reporting of non-compliance for incidents that impact animal welfare. The requirements are clearly summarized on the OLAW pages, but of course, leave the internal administrative mechanism up to the institution. These incidents are hopefully rare and as such, it may be that the …
Reporting Non-Compliance (Elements can help here, too!) Read More »
The annual report that must be submitted to OLAW is very much focused on the constitution and effectiveness of the IACUC, along with any changes that may affect the institutions accreditation. The report requirements are clearly defined on the OLAW pages, and are mostly obvious and easily collated (with a little preparation). However, it is …
Much of AAALAC compliance is really about compliance with The Guide. And while certainlyhaving qualified staff, good training programs, and carefully defined SOPs are the most critical components, having a software application as part of the compliance system can assist in numerous ways. Here are just a few examples: Avoiding overcrowding and managing housing density …
Since each research project starts, from our perspective, with the protocol, it’s good practice to bear in mind the requirements for AAALAC (and other) compliance when designing your protocol forms (and even when selecting a software tool). TOPAZ customers are using the Animal Protocols module as part of a systematic approach to compliance in a …
The TOPAZ Animal Protocols Module and AAALAC Compliance Read More »
