DUKE’S COMPLIANCE LIAISON PROGRAM:  You are well familiar with the plethora of rules and regulations, at times seemingly contradictory, under which institutions and researchers must work. Within that subset of research known as animal facilitated biomedical research, there are almost as many rules and regulations, that while intended to be supportive of the research community and protective of the animal subjects, can become disruptive of ongoing research efforts. Overarching these issues is the institution’s assurance to both federal and funding agency requirements to remain fully complaint with all rules and regulations. It is not new to anyone that if an institution’s assurance was damaged, the impact upon the ability of the institution and the individual researcher to obtain requested funds would be significant. Part of Duke’s plan to assure of program integrity, and maintenance of as smooth process for conducting research as possible, is the active engagement of a post-approval monitoring and assistance program – called the Compliance Liaison Program.


GOAL OF COMPLIANCE LIAISON: The goal of compliance liaison is support of the research staff and protection of animal subjects by confirming accurate and consistent IACUC approved protocol performance of animal based research in a collegial and unobtrusive manner.


ROLES:

• Investigators and laboratory staff should work with the Compliance Liaison, answering questions and allowing observation of on-going activities.
• The Compliance Liaison will work with the investigator and laboratory staff to observe activity unobtrusively, prepare accurate reports, communicate observations clearly, provide recommendations for maintaining compliance, assist in preparing the correct amendment applications to keep laboratory activities compliant with IACUC approved activities, and provide training for non-compliant activities when required.

COMPLIANCE LIAISON: The Duke Animal Care & Use Program currently has two full time Compliance Liaisons - Julie Sharp, DVM and Sonia Doss, RLATg.  As a member of the Duke Office of Animal Welfare Assurance, the Compliance Liasisons serve as the eyes and ears of the IACUC and the OAWA, confirming that actions within the laboratory are as described in the approved animal protocol, while facilitating the researcher with forms submission and training requirements.

FORMS:  If needed, the following link provide access to any required form for updating the animal  protocol package - click here.

For a look at the IACUC approved policy governing this program, click here.