October 3, 2019

It’s been quite a busy summer.  We want to thank all of you for your efforts and patience as we collectively transitioned your protocols into UVMClick! We have 41 approved MPRs and 16 additional MPRs that are at various points in the review process.

We are now well past our original deadline for submission of current protocols.  Our records indicate that there are still MPRs that, while having been started in the system, have not been submitted for review. 

We will be closing the remaining protocols as of November 1.  If you are one of these investigators, please reach out to our office as soon as possible to request help in ensuring your protocol activities continue.

Special Thanks

We would like to acknowledge our amazing IBC Committee members who have put in an extraordinary effort in reviewing virtually all of the ongoing IBC protocols in approximately 6 months.  This was accomplished by holding 2-3 fully convened meetings per month.  This is above and beyond and if researchers have an opportunity to thank an IBC member, please do so.  We wish to also commend Dr. Robert Kelm, Chair of the IBC, for relentlessly attending multiple development meetings over the past few years to make this transition as painless as possible.  His involvement was invaluable.

BSL-2 Classroom Training Update - Note from the UVM Biosafety Officer, Jeff LaBossiere:

“The Biosafety Team would like to inform the UVM laboratory community that BSL-2 in-class training is no longer a requirement for working in a BSL-2 laboratory.  That being said, we still believe that in-person training is still an important component of any lab safety training program.

Through our vast safety training experience, we have found that directed, lab group specific training is more effective than the general, in-class BSL-2 training.  Based on this experience and the robust content of the required CITI trainings, we are transitioning from a general biosafety in-class training program to an on-demand, more content focused, lab group specific training program. 

We will be posting further details regarding this new training approach on our training website; https://www.uvm.edu/riskmanagement/train-and-inform-lab-personnel

Although, the lab group specific biosafety training is not mandatory, it is highly recommended for all lab groups working at BSL-2 containment.  To schedule a lab group specific biosafety training please contact Jeff LaBossiere, jlabossi@uvm.edu or Sarah Roy @ sarah.roy@uvm.edu

Reminder: Both the on-line CITI BSL-1 and BSL-2 training Courses are still a requirement of anyone working at those respective biosafety containment level laboratories.”