Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research
Project Number: 6026-10700-001-005-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2022
End Date: Mar 31, 2027
Objective:
The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit (MMRU)institutional official (IO) delegates to utilize the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to provide review and oversight for animal research conducted by USDA-ARS employees at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute and the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center. Such oversight by the IACUC will also help to ensure compliance with applicable ARS policies (ARS P&P 130.4.v.2), the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Regulations (AWAR), PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy), and the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) when conducting animal research.
USDA-ARS delegates to utilize the UAMS Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) to provide review and oversight for the use of biohazardous agents in research conducted by USDA-ARS employees at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute (ACRI) and the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center (ACNC). Such oversight by the IBC will also help to ensure compliance with CDC and NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines), the NIH Biosafety and Recombinant DNA Policy, the NIH Biosecurity Policy, and the NIH Emerging Biotechnology Policy.
Approach:
USDA-ARS scientists located at the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center will conduct research using the Arkansas Children's Research Institute's animal facilities, which are under the oversight of the UAMS IACUC and IBC. To avoid conflict, ambiguity and duplication of efforts regarding animal care and/or biosafety protocol review and record keeping, USDA-ARS and UAMS desire to operate under a single set of rules, policies and guidelines that all employees (USDA-ARS and UAMS) will follow at these designated facilities.
