What is an IACUC Administrators Best Practice Meeting?

The Best Practice Meeting has become an annual tradition (since 2005) for many Administrators. It gives every attendee the opportunity to discuss their own programmatic challenges with their peers. The primary goals of the meeting are to foster networking, the sharing of resources, and peer-to-peer counseling. Meeting attendees are encouraged to participate in open dialogue, and given the opportunity to provide opinions and ask specific questions. The meeting does not focus specifically on policies and standards governing animal care and use activities, but rather proven practices used to maintain an effective and compliant animal care and use program.

What is the Best Practice Meeting format?

The meetings are facilitated by co-moderators with colleagues from OLAW, the USDA and AAALAC International present to participate in open discussions.  Attendance is limited to approximately 50 individuals, and they are seated in a large open circle.  This seating arrangement has been proven over the years to facilitate attendee conversation and participation.

The meeting is held over a two-day period with each discussion session being approximately an hour.  Networking luncheons are held on both days.  Each session is initiated by an attendee’s 10-minute presentation.  Immediately following the presentation, attendees, regulators, and AAALAC representatives engage in open discussions.

Co-Facilitators

Bill Greer, BS:  received his Bachelor’s in Microbiology from Penn State University in 1985.  He currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan.  His previous roles included Associate Director for Research Compliance at the Pennsylvania State University, and research technician, production manager and Safety Officer at Intervet, State College, PA (Formally Tri Bio Laboratories).  In 2005, he organized and held the first IACUC Administrators’ Best Practices Meeting, which establish a venue for administrators meet informally and discuss programmatic concerns.  He continues to facilitate at least three annual Best Practice meetings.  In 2007, he initiated the process of establishing the IACUC Administrators Association (IAA), which is a professional organization of IACUC Administrators.  In 2010, he chaired the founding committee for the non-profit education based IAA organization.  He now serves as the president and chair of the IAA board of directors.  Since 2007, Bill has served as ad hoc specialist to AAALAC Council where he participates in institutional program reviews, assessments, and status determinations.  He served as a member of the Council of Certified Professional IACUC Administrators (CCPIA).  He continues to facilitate training activities at multiple venues including PRIM&R, AALAS, BTAA, C3, and both IACUC and IBC Administrators Best Practice Meetings.

Ron E. Banks, DVM:  received his veterinary degree from Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and retired a Colonel from the United States Army Veterinary Corps.  After postings as the Director, Center for Comparative Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado; and Director, Office of Animal Welfare Assurance at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; he currently serves as the Director, Division of Comparative Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Along his professional journey he has contributed as Council Member on AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation; Chairman of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee; Board Member for the IACUC Administrator’s Association; and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.  Dr. Banks is board certified with the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine; the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine; and he is a Charter Diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare.

Guest Facilitators (to be determined)

AAALAC International Representative:  To be determined

OLAW Representative:  To be determined

USDA Representative:  To be determined

Draft Meeting Agenda Items*

Please note:  The agenda is based on the needs of the attendees.  During the registration process (or send Bill Greer an email (wggreer@umich.edu) attendees are given the opportunity to identify meeting topics.  The agenda is typically finalized about 30 days before the meeting.

1. Reducing Regulatory Burden: Regulatory Reform Efforts Update and Discussion
2. “Clinical Trails/Cases” When do they cross the line and require IACUC Involvement
3. Semi-Annual Program Reviews – ways to better engage the IACUC members
4. Re-using animals:  Is it OK are there any limits?
5. AAALAC, OLAW and USDA Update
6. IACUC Memberships – recruiting and maintaining active members
7. Brain Storming Session – Top five weaknesses at our institutions
8. The “ABC’s” of field studies/research
9. Post Approval Monitoring or Quality Assurance Program – is there a difference?
10. Guidelines that Reduce Regulatory Burden
11. A Universal Protocol Template for the IACUC Community
12. Do you deal with Protocol Drift?  Teaching PI’s to write protocols that reduce drift!
13. Protocol Reviews Efficient Best Practices (i.e., FCR, DMR, VVC, Administrative)

      14.  Service and Emotional Support Animals, and Access to Animal Facilities

Meeting Logistics

The 2020 IACUC Administrators Best Practice Meeting, New Haven, CT

When:                         May 5-6, 2020

Meeting Support:        Yale University, The IAA and OLAW

Lodging:

The Study at Yale

1157 Chapel St

New Haven, CT 06511

A limited number of rooms at a conference rate of $239 per night have been reserved for you at The Study at Yale.  Reservations can be made on line by through the following link:  Click here to book your room for the IAA BP Meeting:  OARS Conference Room Block

Attendance Fees

IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) members:  $60.

Non-members:  $175

*Save on registration fees by securing a membership in the IAA (http://iacucaa.org/)!

* $100 is the membership fee for the IAA; we encourage you to complete the membership application and sign-up to attend our meeting as an IAA Associate Member.

Comments:

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in the program and related activities. If you anticipate needing special accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Bill Greer by email (wggreer@umich.edu) at least two weeks prior to the conference.