May 2021 Newsletter

The WVU IACUC is pleased to announce Samantha Glaspell, veterinary technician with the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources, as its recipient of the committee's 2021 recognition award. This award is given to recognize commitment to animal health and welfare through the ethical use and exceptional care of animals involved in research at WVU for the benefit of society.

Glaspell has been recognized for her keen awareness of animal behavior she uses in her approach to her care and treatment duties and as a leader in assessing and improving animal housing enrichment to assist animals in adjusting to their surroundings. Her dedication was most exemplified when she volunteered to transport a retired research pigeon to its new home at an animal sanctuary in Florida.

In a surprise announcement, a recognition award was also given to professor Robert Goodman for his dedicated service as a distinguished member of the animal care and use committee. 

Goodman's devoted years of service to the IACUC was recognized with special attention drawn to his continual willingness to help out in whatever way necessary, including working with investigators to improve their animal protocols, serving as an inspector for semi-annual evaluations of the animal program and special service in evaluating welfare reports. His efforts go above and beyond those of standard IACUC membership, and his dedication to animal welfare at WVU is exemplary.

OLAR News/Updates

• Single Housing Cards should now start being placed on all cages with singly housed animals, as described in the updated "Social Housing of Research Animals" policy. Cards will be available in the housing rooms, and these animals will also be provided additional enrichment unless an exception is approved in the IACUC protocol.

• OLAR veterinary technicians are actively reaching out to investigators with Satellite Facilities and scheduling routine health visits in those spaces.
• Facilities Management has placed web-based environmental monitors for temperature and humidity in all satellite facilities. This allows for remote monitoring of the housing rooms and alarms when parameters are outside the setpoints. If your space has not received this device, please contact the OLAR Director.
• WELCOME! Please extend a warm welcome to OLAR's newest veterinary technician Lauren McKenzie. Lauren joined the veterinary staff in January. She is a WVU graduate, and has worked in small animal veterinary practice for about 9 years before coming to OLAR. You can reach her, along with any of the veterinary staff by phone 304-293-3737 or email olarvetstaff@hsc.wvu.edu.

Providing Clinical Treatment to Animals

Sometimes animals get injured, become sick, or have post-procedural complications. We would like to remind investigators and research staff that it is necessary to consult with veterinary staff before providing clinical treatment to research and teaching animals. Unless the treatment is already described as part of your approved animal use protocol or a veterinary-approved SOP referenced in your protocol, you should consult with veterinary staff before providing treatment to animals when unexpected illness or injury occurs. Feel free to contact the IACUC office if you have additional questions.

The IACUC is now seeking comments and questions on the KUALI electronic animal use protocol form from researchers. You should have received an email recently highlighting the features of the current draft form. Comments are due back by May 28, 2021. Investigators who did not receive this email should contact the Office of Animal Welfare at IACUC@mail.wvu.edu to inquire.

What do you do with your soiled lab coat? Take it home to launder?  NO! 
Especially if you work with animals-- lab coats, scrubs, or other lab-dedicated clothing may not be taken home to launder. Some departments launder in-house, following universal precautions. Any laundry service/dry cleaner that follows universal precautions may be utilized. At Health Sciences Center, Massulo’s Cleaners has a drop-off/pickup site located at G249. If you are not at HSC, contact Massulo’s Cleaners, Model Cleaners, or other local laundry service to schedule service. 
See WVU EHS website for additional information: https://www.ehs.wvu.edu/biosafety/biosafety-manual/chapter-10-personal-protective-equipment-for-biohazards

Below is a list of *NEW* or recently updated policies and guidelines. You can find them on the OAW website here:

IACUC Policies, Guidelines & SOPs 

• Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Substances Used in Animals (updated 12/2020)
• *NEW* Euthanasia Guidelines (12/2020)
• Adverse Events/Unexpected Outcomes (updated 1/2021)
• Autoclave Validation and Sterile Pack Processing (2/2021)
• Veterinary Recommendations for Anesthesia and Analgesia (updated 2/2021)
• Environmental Enrichment for Animals (updated 2/2021)
• *NEW* Satellite Housing (2/2021)
• *NEW* Reporting Animal Welfare Concerns and Whistleblower Protections (2/2021)
• Multiple Survival Surgeries in the Same Animal (updated 3/2021)
• Social Housing of Research Animals (updated 03/2021)

Friendly Reminder...

All protocol renewals must be submitted and approved prior to your expiration date if you want to avoid a lapse in approval for any ongoing animal activities (research, breeding and/or teaching). If your protocol expires and your animals remaining in the facility are moved onto the OLAR Holding Protocol, please understand that you will not have any access to these animals, and you cannot continue any research, breeding, or teaching with those animals or use NIH funds to pay per diems on them until the renewal is approved.