Posted: January 26, 2009
The Neurobiology of Social Behavior
Issue editor: Scott Wersinger

"The articles in this issue give the reader an appreciation for the complexity of social behavior in all organisms, both in and outside the laboratory. The general principles illustrated by the specific examples apply to many other species, including other common laboratory animals. The experiences and insights presented here can help the reader to be more cognizant of the multitude of factors that influence social behavior but are beyond human senses and consciousness, and of the potentially dramatic impacts of these factors on the behavior and physiology of laboratory animals. Although the practical considerations discussed in this issue are in the context of social behavior, they also apply to many other fields and may usefully guide general husbandry practices in existing facilities and the design of new facilities."

Posted: January 16, 2009
A new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) has been posted on the OLAW website at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#protocol. This FAQ provides guidance on the topic “Does the IACUC have to review proposed animal research activities at the time of grant award if the animal research activities will not be conducted until year 4 or 5 of a grant?”

Posted: January 13, 2009
Guidance to IACUCs Regarding Use of Designated Member Review (DMR) for Animal Study Proposal Review Subsequent to Full Committee Review (FCR), has been published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on January 8, 2009, NOT-OD-09-035. This Notice provides guidance to PHS awardee institutions on actions an IACUC may take following FCR. A related Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) has been posted in the Protocol Review section on the OLAW web page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#protocol.

Posted: January 8, 2009
Annual Reports for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 will be due to OLAW no later than January 31, 2009. In accordance with the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy), Part IV.F., and each Institution’s Animal Welfare Assurance, each institution is required to submit a written report to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) at least once every twelve (12) months. Reporting periods coincide with the calendar year, unless a request was made in writing to OLAW for an alternate reporting schedule.   

Information to be reported consists of any change in the institution’s program of animal care and use, a change in the Institutional Official or IACUC membership, the dates that the IACUC conducted its semiannual evaluations of the program and facilities, and any minority IACUC member views. Only three attachments are required to accompany the annual report:

1. Roster of the IACUC members, only if there has been a change to the membership
2. Summary of any program changes
3. Any minority IACUC member view

If there have been no other changes to the animal program, then no other program elements are needed for the Annual Report. Please do not send semi-annual reports with the Annual Report unless they include a minority opinion (for guidance on minority views, see OLAW's Frequently Asked Question [http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#report_6]). A Sample Annual Report Form can be found at the following URL on the OLAW website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/sampledoc/rptprt.htm.If you have any questions regarding your report, please contact OLAW at 301-496-7163.  
Annual Reports can be mailed, faxed or submitted electronically. OLAW prefers that the Annual Reports be faxed because our electronic fax system converts them to a PDF document for more efficient processing. The fax number for submitting the Annual Report is 301-915-9478. If you choose to submit your report by e-mail, please convert your signed Annual Report to PDF and e-mail to olawarp@mail.nih.gov. If you choose to send by mail, UPS or FedEx, please send to:
                    
OLAW Division of Assurances 
National Institutes of Health 
RLK 1, Suite 360 
6705 Rockledge Drive 
Bethesda, MD 20817

Documents submitted to OLAW are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). OLAW’s FOIA FAQ can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#report_4.

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