Assistant Director, Office of Animal Care & Institutional Biosafety

Position Summary

This position assists in the management of regulatory guidance for and support to the Animal Care Committee (ACC) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). This includes review of animal use recombinant/ synthetic DNA and infectious agent research protocols and modifications; making regulatory determinations; shepherding the documents through the review steps; and assisting with other committee business, as necessary.

Advises researchers/Principal Investigators on regulatory requirements and institutional policies and procedures. This position also serves as a liaison to UIC veterinary staff and UIC Environmental Health Safety staff. Duties Responsibilities Process and review ACC and IBC protocols and modifications to protocols, interpret federal regulations and policies governing the use of animals in research, testing and teaching and the use of recombinant or synthetic DNA, and/or infectious agents, and prepare responses to researchers.

Provide guidance to faculty and staff regarding the federal and institutional requirements for research activities with animals and research activities with biohazardous agents as applicable to animal use. Provides guidance and high-level support to the ACC IBC Chairs and members. Participate in the management of the federally mandated component of the animal subject research review system, review of research covered under the NIH Guidelines (recombinant and synthetic DNA) as well as the use of infectious and other biological agents in research, which conforms to UIC, and applicable regulatory, funding and accrediting agency requirements.

This position has the responsibility to ensure that the veterinary review and/ or ACC review and IBC review comments for protocols and modifications have been resolved. Assist researchers with these required changes as necessary, and finalize approval requirements. Participate in the management of funding sources associated with animal use at UIC.

Assist researchers with understanding the requirements of funding congruency and communicate with the Office of Sponsored Programs in OVCR, as applicable. Compose communications that accurately document the determinations of the ACC or IBC review and assist PI with revisions required. Ensure ACC and IBC administrative, policy, guideline, and protocol files are maintained and retained according to federal requirements.

Assist in the development of correspondence and reports for federal government, various sponsoring and accrediting agencies and professional organizations, national associations and legislative groups, on behalf of the Director, Vice Chancellor for Research, and UIC Administration. Assist with non-compliance reports related to the ACC and IBC.

Provides content for and the Research Protections section of the Office of Research Services website. Make regulatory determinations on protocols/modifications. Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned. Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.