Navigator Newsletter-April 2023

Save the Date!

Biomedical Research Awareness Day

This year, BRAD is more than just one day! Join us on Red Square at the University of Washington main campus! We will have a booth set up at the following times:

• Monday April 17th, 10am-2pm
• Wednesday April 19th, 10am-2pm
• Thursday April 20th, 10am-2pm

There will also be a poster display highlighting the work of UW animal researchers in the third floor Health Sciences Building lobby. This display will be up all week so please stop by when you have time.

BRAD is an international outreach program that seeks to increase public awareness about animal roles in biomedical research and the resulting medical advancements that benefit both humans and animals. For more information about BRAD, visit the Americans for Medical Progress BRAD website.

What To Expect During an AAALAC Site Visit

June 26-30 in Seattle

June 22 in Arizona

Bookmark our AAALAC 2023 website, where we will provide tips and resources to help you prepare.

The scope of the AAALAC site visit includes a walk-through of animal facilities as well as Principal Investigator (PI)-managed spaces where live animals are housed or manipulated for research, teaching, or training.

Both animal welfare and worker safety will be evaluated, so it is important that laboratories maintain best practices.

Areas of focus will include appropriate laboratory attire and personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls for the use of chemicals and biohazardous materials, availability of up-to-date disaster plans (i.e., contingency plans), access to eye wash stations, and good housekeeping practices such as hand hygiene and use of appropriate disinfectants.

Changes in Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO)

UW’s policy on embryonic stem cell research was recently revised to align with the International Society for Stem Cell Research Guidelines. In addition to working with human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs), ESCRO committee review is now required for:

• Research involving human induced pluripotential stem cells (hiPSC)
• Organoids that have the potential to form neural networks or gametes
• In vitro-developed embryos using hESCs or hiPSCs.

Visit the ESCRO webpage for a full description of changes to the policy, as well as step-by-step instructions on when and how to submit applications.

Questions? Reach out to escro@uw.edu.

Researchers and Animal Monitoring

Animals on study must be monitored as described in the associated IACUC protocol, and this monitoring should be documented. This includes frequency of monitoring, as well as clinical and behavioral signs monitored. Be sure to review the description of monitoring in your IACUC protocol prior to initiating a study.

The IACUC expects this monitoring to be performed by research staff (not husbandry staff), unless otherwise stated in the protocol. Although husbandry staff do check animals every day, they are not experts on your animals or your research.

For older animals (e.g., rodents 18 months of age or older), the IACUC protocol must describe enhanced monitoring to detect age-related morbidity.

For animals in a breeding colony or being held for research, it is expected that research staff will check the animals at least once per week.

Rodent Carcass Disposal

ABSL-1 carcasses should be placed in clear bags.

All bags must be identified with PI name and date of death/euthanasia.

Carcass bags and tags are available in DCM procedure rooms for you to take to your labs.

* ABSL-2 carcasses must go in small red biohazard bags with the additional biohazard agent information.