Postapproval Monitoring Practices at Biomedical Research Facilities

A survey of the impact of COVID-19 on the management of animal experiments and laboratory animal facilities in Korea

The pandemic has affected the lives of people all over the world. The effects of the pandemic on laboratory animal facilities and their operations through this unusual global event are poorly understood. Here, we have applied a methodological framework of qualitative approach including semi-structured interviews to investigate laboratory animal operations in Korea and how it has shaped the on-going management and laboratory operations of such facilities. A total of fifty-two individuals, including members and administrators of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), researchers, and animal facility managers and staff, were surveyed through purposeful sampling. Survey questions explored how the pandemic impacted the IACUC and the functioning of animal facilities, and what steps to take in preparation of a future pandemic-like crisis. Our survey found evidence of an increase in animal experiments in Korea during the pandemic that correlated with increases in research funding during that period, such as for vaccine development. Also, operational challenges due to pandemic-related health issues in personnel were resolved through overtime, rather than by reducing facility operations. Moreover, a refinement of post-approval monitoring (PAM) practices was also discussed by respondents. Taken together, our study offers insights into animal facility operations during the pandemic and outlines recommendations for safeguarding operations in such future scenarios.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Postapproval Monitoring Programs: A Proposed Comprehensive Classification Scheme

Introduced over 20 y ago, IACUCs undertaking postapproval monitoring (PAM) of animal research procedures as a means to ensure researcher compliance is now widely used as an oversight tool in laboratory animal research. Through a literature review evaluating the history of PAM in the United States, discussions of controversy surrounding PAM activities, and reflections on how PAM activities are described within the IACUC community, we present an up-to-date and comprehensive classification system for PAM program methodologies that could serve to standardize how such activities are characterized in IACUC policies, communicated to research staff, used in training programs, implemented for the desired impact by individuals involved in animal research oversight, and referenced by regulatory agencies.