September 2021 Newsletter
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Stay up-to-date with the latest news and resources from the Office of Research Protections
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Animal Research Protections Training Update
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All animal research-related training is now offered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) platform. Most notably, the previously required training module “Use of Laboratory Animals in Research and Education (Module 3)” has been replaced. Researchers are now required to complete either "Working with Small Animals" or "Working with Large Animals," dependent on their research model. We combined the prior general research utilizing animals with the small and large animal modules to reduce the number of courses investigators are required to complete.
In addition, the controlled substances course has been updated and moved to the CITI platform. The IACUC also adopted CITI’s species-specific courses, to replace prior courses generated by the animal program. Researchers will be required to complete species-specific courses depending on the species specified in their IACUC protocols.
Instructions on gaining access to the new training modules is provided on the Training Page of the IACUC website.
Please note that the new CITI training modules will be required for new investigators/research staff, and retraining is required every four years. If you previously completed the legacy courses, you will not be required to complete the CITI training modules until retraining is required.
Contact the IACUC office at iacuc@pitt.edu or (412) 383-2008 with any questions.
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Federal policy and regulations require ongoing review of IACUC protocols. To ensure your animal research is not interrupted, please submit annual and three-year renewals in a timely fashion.
Protocol Renewal: A renewal application must be submitted annually, and a new application must be submitted every 3 years to continue work under a given protocol. The Principal Investigator will receive a reminder at 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days prior to annual or 3-year protocol expiration dates. If a lapse in protocol approval does occur, no additional animal ordering will be permitted, and no further experimentation on animals already received will be allowed until the protocol has been approved.
The average processing times for new protocols and 3-year renewals is 35 days, so please submit your protocol well ahead of the expiration date.
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Media Protocol for Investigators
Faculty members are often asked by journalists to discuss their work or comment as subject area experts. While faculty members are not required to seek approval to communicate with journalists, the University Communications team is available to provide guidance and support as needed, and can be contacted at media@pitt.edu.
If you are contacted by a reporter seeking the view of the University, as opposed to your personal view, the inquiry must be referred to University Communications.
For more information, visit the media relations site.
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There are so many reasons to get your COVID-19 vaccine! We asked a few members of our campus community why they got theirs and here’s what they said.
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ORP Division Spotlight
The ORP's Institutional Biosafety Division supports three different committees that oversee compliance for research projects involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, human stem cells, and Select Agent materials. These committees are the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Human Stem Cell Research Oversight (hSCRO) Committee and the Committee for Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC).
The Institutional Biosafety Division serves as a resource for the University community. The division's staff provide information and can assist researchers in submitting a research proposal for review. Individual consultations are available by appointment.
For more information, visit the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) website or contact the Support Staff via email at ibo@pitt.edu.
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Date: Wednesday, September 8th
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Speaker: Beverly Harding, Director, Institutional Biosafety
Join an informal session on Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) requirements. The first session will focus on requirements for IBC review, available resources, and procedures — followed by time for questions and answers.
The session will be repeated in the future based on feedback and attendance.
No registration is required. Join the session here.
Please contact us at ibo@pitt.edu with any questions.
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