Navigator Newsletter-October 2023

Expired Substances

A new mandatory e-learning module has been developed on the importance of not using expired substances in animals, and how to manage expiration dates. All members of the animal care program will be enrolled in this e-learning and are required to complete the course within 4 weeks of enrollment.

‘Expired drugs, substances, or medical supplies are generally not allowed for use in live vertebrate animals or cephalopods. Under no circumstances may expired anesthetics, analgesics, and agents of euthanasia be used.

Mixtures or dilutions of substances must be labelled with an expiration date of one month after mixing/diluting or with the manufacturer-determined expiration date of any of the components, whichever is soonest.

For additional information, refer to the following:

IACUC Policy Expiration Date Management for Medical Supplies, Equipment, and Substances.

IACUC Policy Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Substances in Laboratory Animals.

IACUC Guideline Preparation, Storage and Labeling of Drug and Chemical Formulations.

Reporting Concerns

Do you have a concern about the care of our research animals?

Safeguarding animal welfare is the responsibility of everyone in our animal care program. Learn about the options available to report animal welfare concerns at UW. Reports can be made anonymously, and are protected from discrimination and reprisal.

Go to the new lesson Report Concerns for Animal Welfare.

2, 4, 6, 8, Numbers to Communicate!

‘It’s that time of year again!

The UW must report its annual usage of animals in research, teaching, and testing to regulatory and accrediting agencies. OAW will be reaching out to all research groups over the next few weeks to collect this information.

Prepare by calculating the number of animals used over the reporting period of October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023.

The number of animals used includes those used for experimental and teaching purposes, as well as animals generated as part of a breeding program (e.g., animals of incorrect genotype) or housed during the reporting period but not yet used.

3Rs Funding Opportunities!

Several fantastic funding opportunities to support pilot projects and training focused on the refinement, reduction, and replacement of the use of animals in research:

UW 3Rs Pilot Funding.

Up to $10,000/grant; proposals due November 1, 2023
Animal Welfare Institute Implementing Refinement Grant and Refinement Research Award.

Up to $8,000 – $15,000/grant; proposals due November 11, 2023.

Johns Hopkins’ Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing Reduction and Humane Education Grants.

Up to $6,000/grant; proposals due November 15, 2023.

October is National Biosafety Month

This year, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) encourages labs to develop written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for procedures involving biohazards.

The Value of Written Procedures.

EH&S Biological Safety has a customizable biosafety SOP template available or you can build your own.

Review the EH&S news post on biosafety month to learn more about creating and enhancing your written laboratory procedures.

The EH&S Biosafety team is available to review and provide feedback to enhance your SOPs for procedures involving biohazards.

If you have questions or would like to consult with an EH&S biosafety officer, contact ehsbio@uw.edu or 206-221-7770.