The regulations governing the use of animals for research, instruction and testing purposes defines the IACUC as having the responsibility of overseeing animal activities at the institution.  For example, The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide) indicates, IACUC “oversight of animal activities is required by federal laws, regulations, and policies”.  In addition, the Animal Welfare Act Regulations (AWAR) requires the continuing IACUC review of approved animal activities “not less than annually”. This regulatory delegation gives institutions’ executive officers the idea that everything “animal” is under the jurisdiction of the IACUC.

To respond accordingly, IACUCs and administrators reference, review, and interpret regulatory requirements to formulate an appropriate response to a given circumstance. On occasion, the regulatory association is weak and can only be tied to the governing standards through the animal affiliation.            

Amidst concerns about reproducibility, scientific rigor, and transparency in all areas of research, Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of NIH, charged an advisory committee to identify gaps and opportunities to improve the rigor, reproducibility and transparency of animal model studies.  The working group is tasked with addressing numerous issues related to rigor and reproducibility with its recommendations to NIH expected later in 2021.  Recent attention has been placed on the role the IACUC should play in helping to ensure reproducibility, rigor and transparency.  Do the regulatory documents currently equip IACUC’s to play a role?       

During this webinar, Lauren Danridge will discuss how issues around reproducibility, rigor and transparency led to an NIH advisory committee.  We will also take an in-depth look and analyze the current regulatory requirements trying to identify matters that fall under the jurisdiction of the IACUC that may position the committee to contribute to the effort of improving reproducibility, rigor and transparency. Following Lauren’s presentation (and during is OK too), collectively attendees discuss the topic by, for example, posing questions to the speaker and other attendees, offering ideas and prospective on the issue.         

Meeting 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.

Presenter(s) Biographies

Lauren Danridge joined the University of Michigan Animal Care & Use Office in September 2017 as the Assistant Director of the new Quality Assurance Program; in January 2018, she was named Associate Director of the Animal Care & Use Office. Lauren came to the University of Michigan from Rutgers University (formerly UMDNJ), where she served as both the Manager and Assistant Manager for Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee Administration. In these roles, she was responsible for managing a variety of administrative processes, including protocol development, processing, and tracking; grant reporting; and the development of multiple systems to assist researchers with protocol compliance and responsible research conduct. She was also a voting member of the IACUC and involved in the overall management of the animal care and use program. Lauren has hands-on basic science research experience, and she also served as a research administrator for basic science departments; assisting faculty with pre- and post-award grant activities, manuscripts, presentations, and protocols. 

As an active contributor to the national animal care and use community, Lauren regularly presents on best practices for IACUC research administration at conferences and higher education institutions. In her role as Associate Director of the Animal Care & Use Office, she supports the Animal Care & Use Program by assisting in the leadership and management of oversight programs for the protection of animals involved in research at the University. Current programmatic goals are to reduce regulatory burden, continue engaging the research community in programmatic improvements, and streamlining business processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

OLAW Representative

Patricia A. Brown, VMD, MS, DACLAM, is the director of OLAW at NIH. OLAW oversees the use of animals at NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the VA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation-supported research covered by PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy); monitors compliance with the PHS Policy; evaluates allegations or indications of noncompliance with federal animal welfare requirements; and supports educational programs that further the humane care and use of research animals. Dr. Brown joined NIH in 1986, and served in clinical and management positions in the NIH intramural program before joining OLAW in 2006 as the director. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from The Pennsylvania State University and her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania. She served in the United States Air Force and, while on active duty, completed a residency and Master of Science degree in laboratory animal medicine from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

USDA Representative

Tonya Hadjis, DVM has been with APHIS Animal Care since July 2008, initially serving the Greater Boston area as the VMO.  Currently her position is of Supervisory Animal Care Specialist which includes 9 inspectors covering the Northeast. 

Dr. Hadjis had been in general small animal and shelter animal practice prior to employment with APHIS.  She had also completed an externship at the Navajo Window Rock Veterinary Clinic prior to graduation from the University Of Georgia College Of Veterinary Medicine. 

She lives in Lexington MA with her husband and son and enjoys ice skating, cross-country skiing, biking, and history amongst other interests.

Programs Support

The IACUC Administrators Association (IAA) and related activities are supported through OLAW and IAA memberships.  Membership fees through ongoing involvement from the community allow the IAA to keep activities fees at a minimum.  We ask that you please become a new member, or maintain your membership status (memberships are renewed annually).  If you are a current member of the IAA, you are free to attend webinars at no charge.  Individuals that are non-members or those with expired memberships will be asked to provide $30 in support for each webinar they attend.