Potential U.S. Federal Government Shutdown: Research Continuity Guidance

Projects involving work with animals, human participants, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (r/sNA), or hazardous materials (biological, chemical, or radiation) require ongoing maintenance: amendment approvals for any changes to the project, and continuing approvals ("renewals") for certain types of projects.

Managing Your Protocol

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  • Your research administrator or departmental admin should be your first stop if you have questions. 
  • Live vertebrate animals:
    • CARE staff provide you with high-quality veterinary care, consultations and training on animal use, including experimental design and protocol development. ACUPS provide standard operating procedures.
    • IACUC staff can provide guidance on management of an IACUC protocol; you can also visit our homepage.
  • r/sNA or Biohazardous Materials: IBC staff can provide assistance with questions concerning an IBC MUA; you can also visit our homepage.
  • Human Participants: IRB staff can provide help with questions and modifications to an IRB protocol; you can also visit our homepage.
  • Radiation Safety: EHS staff can provide help with questions related to your radioactive material permit; you can also visit our homepage.

Amendments to Protocols

  • Live Vertebrate Animals (IACUC). Changes to an IACUC protocolincluding research personnel, change in facility, addition of a species, increase in animal numbers, addition of surgical and non-surgical procedures, etc.require an amendment. Learn more about the IACUC amendment process, or log-in to the system (Cayuse Animal Management System).
  • r/sNA or Biohazardous Materials (IBC). Certain changes to an IBC MUAincluding adding or removing personnel, change in facility, new vectors, new sources, etc.require an amendment. Learn more about the IBC amendment process, or log-in to the system (e-MUA)
  • Human Participants (IRB). Changes to your IRB protocolincluding research personnel, change in study population, addition of procedures and surveys, change in funding source, etc.require an amendment. Learn more about the IRB amendment process, or fill out an IRB amendment form.
  • Radioactive Material Permit. The radioactive material permit issued by the Radiation Safety Committee includes conditions that authorizes and reflects the permit holder's use needs at the time of issuance. Changes to these conditions require an amendment to the permit. Refer to the Permit Amendment Process in the Radiation Safety Manual for more information.

Continuing Approval (Renewals)

Certain protocols must be renewed on a regular (annual or triennial) schedule. If this is the case for your approved project, you will receive notification of the upcoming review. It's your responsibility to submit the renewal request with sufficient time for the protocol office or committee to review by the expiration date. Learn more about review timelines in the Compliance, Ethics, Safety section of this website.

Required Training and Training Updates

Most compliance protocols require some sort of training, which needs to be updated on a recurring basis. You will receive a notice from the training program (or compliance office) to alert you to an expiring training.


Managing Work with Hazardous Materials

Managing safety in the laboratory is an integral and ongoing part of a successful research project. Proper management of hazards reduces the potential for incidents that may negatively impact you, your staff, or your research, such as an injury or illness, damage or destruction of research materials or data, a short term or long term loss of part or all of a facility, and/or a regulatory violation or fine.

The proper management of hazardous materials and equipment involves:

  • Understanding and meeting regulatory and institutional requirements for working with hazardous materials and equipment.
  • Training to provide researchers with the knowledge and skills needed to safely perform their work.
  • Risk assessments for new hazardous materials, processes, or equipment.
  • Controls to minimize risks. Examples of controls include fume hoods, biological safety cabinets, interlock systems, signage, and personal protective equipment.
  • Proper disposal of hazardous waste.

Hazardous Materials Guidance 

Guidance for managing work with hazardous materials can be found on the Research Safety webpage or you can request assistance via askEHS.

For more information on any of the topics on this page, see the Compliance, Ethics, Safety section

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