Research Insights

Compliance

New ChemSafeUGA platform simplifies lab safety for investigators Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - UGA’s Office of Research Safety (ORS) has adopted a new software for its Chemical Safety Plan (CSP) program that will streamline submission of CSPs for investigators and lab managers across campus. Called ChemSafeUGA, the new platform links to outside databases that make it easier for lab personnel to keep their CSPs up to date with […]
Action needed: Principal Investigators, Laboratory Supervisors to update emergency contact information in Chematix  Monday, January 23, 2023 - After several recent incidents that have required police or fire assistance in the research labs after hours or on weekends, the Office of Research Integrity & Safety is requiring all principal investigators and laboratory supervisors to register or update their primary and alternate emergency contacts in the Chematix system. This information will only be made […]
Get support from HRPP Friday, August 5, 2022 - The Human Research Protection Program professionals provide guidance and support for students and staff developing submissions for IRB review.
New Office of Research Security and Export Controls Monday, May 9, 2022 - The new Office of Research Security and Export Controls (ORSEC), under the Office of Research Integrity and Safety umbrella, will continue its export controls and economic sanctions compliance mandate while responding to new and evolving federal guidelines related to research security requirements for federally funded research.
IRB: Expiration of Approval Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - PIs are urged to have multiple tools and safeguards to ensure that they meet regulatory and institutional requirements pertaining to continuing review and maintaining approval of human research projects.
Travel, Shipping, and Activities involving Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria or Ukraine Friday, April 29, 2022 - Get help with travel, shipping and activities involving countries where the U.S. has imposed economic sanctions or trade embargoes.
Export Control Training Available for International Shippers Friday, April 29, 2022 - The Office of Export Control can provide in-person or video conference training for international shippers on compliance with export controls and economic sanctions.
Change in postdoc appointment and termination policies and procedures Thursday, April 14, 2022 - In addition to no longer requiring an RIF for grant-funded postdocs, units now have two distinct options for postdoc appointments: defined term and open term.
Additions of Foreign Academic and Research Institutions to U.S. Lists of Parties of Concern Friday, March 4, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Commerce has recently added multiple foreign universities and affiliated labs and other research centers to either the Unverified List or the Entity List.
International Transaction Due Diligence  Friday, March 4, 2022 - international shipment, UGA personnel should contact the Office of Export Control to request review of the transaction.
NSF updated Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide Thursday, January 13, 2022 - NSF's updated Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide went into effect Oct. 4, 2021.
New DOE interim conflict of interest policy Monday, January 10, 2022 - DOE issued an interim conflict of interest policy that addresses both financial and organizational conflicts of interest.
NIH expands requirements for reporting scope of other support Monday, January 10, 2022 - Starting Jan. 25, 2022, Investigators identified as senior/key personnel on new National Institutes of Health projects and renewals will need to provide expanded disclosures of other support including third party contracts and agreements.
IACUC updated guidelines Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - IACUC updated guidelines for ferret housing in T2000 containment caging and ferret inhalant anesthesia for brief, non-painful procedures.
IRB Turnaround Times Monday, October 11, 2021 - Due to recent staff turnover, the turnaround times for IRB reviews are longer than usual.
Airgas feedback opportunity Monday, October 11, 2021 - Please use this short form to share comments related to your ongoing experiences with Airgas.
UGA Right to Know: Bloodborne Pathogens Training Monday, March 22, 2021 - Training for faculty, staff and students who may be exposed to human blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Updated AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition Tuesday, July 14, 2020 - NIH’s Office of Animal Welfare (OLAW) has notified institutions that the new 2020 AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia of Animals are to be implemented October 1, 2020.
Human Subject Regulations Decision Charts Tuesday, July 7, 2020 - The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) has posted on its website a set of decision charts that are consistent with the 2018 Requirements (i.e. the revised Common Rule).
Resuming research involving human participants Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - The Human Research Protection Program is developing a toolkit for researchers planning to resume in-person research activities involving human participants.
IRB: PI responsibilities Thursday, June 27, 2019 - PIs are ultimately accountable for ensuring that individual research projects meet all reporting and approval requirements.
Mandatory Training for Rodent Surgery and/or General Anesthesia Begins July 1, 2019 Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - Training will be required for all personnel on Animal Use Protocols (AUPs) that include survival surgical procedures on rodents and/or general anesthesia of rodents.
New video describes social and behavioral research Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - The video is for potential participants and is designed to help them consider whether or not they want to participate in research. Researchers may also find this helpful when designing consent processes and materials.
New definitions for human subjects research effective Jan. 21, 2019 Tuesday, March 19, 2019 - The Final Rule includes a new definition of research and identifies scholarly and journalistic activities as categories deemed not to be research.
New IRB Consent Templates and Samples Monday, February 18, 2019 - The Revised Common Rule for the protection of human subjects in research includes new consent requirements.
Changes in URAR leadership Thursday, January 24, 2019 - During the change in leadership, URAR asks that researchers with animal use needs allow extra time for requests.
Human Subjects Research Policy Changes Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - The Federal Policy for Protections of Human Research Participants, also known as the Common Rule, has been revised. The revised Common Rule goes into effect Jan. 21, 2019 and affects all pending and new human research project submissions.
New HHS Common Rule Goes into Effect Jan. 21, 2019 Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and 16 other federal departments and agencies have issued revisions to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (also known as the Common Rule).
New human subjects post-approval monitoring program in 2019 Tuesday, November 27, 2018 - Projects that will be assessed are identified through the IRB Portal. Post-approval monitoring will be conducted on non-exempt federally funded studies.
Brandon Jordan named University’s new radiation safety officer Monday, November 26, 2018 - Jordan supports research groups who use radioactive isotopes, X-rays, lasers or high magnetic fields, and he is open to any comments or improvement suggestions regarding services provided by the Office of Research Safety.
Revised Human Research Protection Program policies for collaborative research Thursday, October 18, 2018 - The HRPP has issued revised policies for the Use of External Sites in Research and for research involving External Collaborating Sites.
New Research Safety service to assist with lab compliance Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - A new, optional fee-for-service program is available to researchers and administrators who face issues getting their laboratory space ready for operations with safety compliance assurance.​
Compressed gas purchasing restrictions with P-Card Friday, August 17, 2018 - Certain compressed gases are no longer allowable purchases with a P-Card. Any compressed gas that exhibits additional hazardous characteristics such as flammability, corrosivity, toxicity or strong oxidizing properties must be purchased through UGA Mart.
Human research protection program earns accreditation Thursday, August 16, 2018 - The University of Georgia’s program for ensuring the safety and protection of human subjects who participate in research has been awarded accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs. This is the first time UGA has applied for this accreditation. Accreditation by this international organization is particularly important as UGA engages in […]
Guidance on opening and closing laboratories Wednesday, June 20, 2018 - The Office of Research Safety ensures university laboratories are opened and closed safely. Staff can advise researchers of the various free Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) services and coordinate services among compliance offices.
Delay: Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects Monday, June 18, 2018 - Substantial revisions to the federal regulations for the protection of human participants in research (Common Rule) may become effective on July 19, 2018. These changes will apply to all new studies submitted for IRB determination or review on or after July 19, 2018.
European Union General Data Protection Regulation Compliance Policy Monday, June 18, 2018 - Are you conducting research in the European Union? A new institutional policy is available on the EITS website.
New research animal housing policy Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - The IACUC has passed a new policy clarifying where research animals can be housed based on the species, funding sources, and type of research and/or teaching activity.
New policy on animal transport for research or instructional purposes Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - This policy affects transportation of animals within animal facilities and outside of animal facilities when requested by the researcher/instructor.
Changes in U.S. sanctions affect UGA travel to Cuba Thursday, March 15, 2018 - The updated regulations include a prohibition on financial transactions with entities or sub-entities that are under the control of, or act on behalf of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services or personnel. The regulatory changes also include increased enforcement and auditing of UGA travel to Cuba.
Changes in Human Research Protections Regulations Tuesday, March 6, 2018 - An Interim Final Rule to delay revisions to IRB regulations has been published. This delays the effective date to July 19, 2018. To be assured consideration, comments on the IFR must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 19, 2018.
Human research protection program seeks accreditation Saturday, January 27, 2018 - AAHRPP will conduct a site visit to review UGA’s IRB records and assess whether the policies and procedures for human research protections described in the university's written application are translated into practice.
New policy on disposal of sharps, pointed plastics and glass Thursday, January 18, 2018 - This policy is designed to reduce the potential for injuries and near misses when building service workers are removing waste from the laboratories.
Update: Changes in Human Research Protections Regulations Wednesday, November 29, 2017 - The UGA Human Subjects Office is preparing updates to policies and the IRB portal.
U.S. Government Revokes Most Sudan Sanctions Thursday, October 12, 2017 - With the lifting of the sanctions, research, collaborations, online course delivery, and travel to Sudan becomes more straightforward, but export licenses may still be required.
Policy Changes to Impact NIH-funded Studies Involving Human Subjects Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - NIH has provided new guidance for conducting NIH-funded research that involves human subjects.
U.S. Government to Ban Travel to North Korea Wednesday, August 2, 2017 - Effective Sept. 1, 2017, U.S. citizens are prohibited from traveling to North Korea.
Human Research Protections Community Forum, July 18-19 Thursday, May 4, 2017 - Join the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) staff at a Research Community Forum called “Navigating a River of Change: Bringing Research Up to Par” in Augusta, GA, July 18-19.
Updated Guidance on Safe Handling of Sharps Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - The Office of Biosafety has issued updated guidance on the "Safe Handling of Sharps in the Biological Research Laboratory."
Kim Fowler Appointed Director of Human Subjects Office, Office of Research Monday, April 10, 2017 - Kim Fowler, who has served as interim director of the Human Subjects Office since late 2015, has been appointed its director, effective April 1, 2017.