United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Research Oversight (ORO)

Acronyms

Commonly used Definitions in VA and VA Research Communities

Acronym

Definition

AAALAC Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care,
International
AAC Austin Automation Center
AAHRPP Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs
AALAS Association for Laboratory Animal Science
AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges
ACLAM American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine
ACORP Animal Component of Research Protocol
ACOS/R Associate Chief of Staff for Research (VA)
ACOS/R&D Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development
ACUP Animal Care and Use Program
ADR Adverse Drug Reaction
AE Adverse Event
AHIC American Health Information Community
AO Administrative Officer (VA)
AO/R&D Administrative Officer for Research and Development (VA)               
APHIS Animal and Plan Health Inspection Service (USDA)
AV Antivirus
AVMA American Veterinary Medical Association
AWA Animal Welfare Act
BAA Business Associate Agreement
BMBL Biological in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories 
BSL Biological Safety Level
CBOC Community Based Outpatient Clinic (VA)
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DHHS)
CFO Chief Financial Officer
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CIO Chief Information Officer
CIP Certified IRB Professional
CIRB Central Institutional Review Board
CITI Collaborative IRB Training                                                     
CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act
CMOP Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (VA)
CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (DHHS)
CO Central Office (Department of Veterans Affairs)
COACH Center on Advice and Compliance Help
CoC Certificate of Confidentiality (DHHS)
COI Conflict of Interest
COS Chief of Staff (VA)
CPRS Computerized Patient Record System (VA)
CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
CRADO Chief Research and Development Officer (VHA)
CRF Case Report Form   
CSP Cooperative Studies Program (VHA)
CSPCC Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center (VA)
CT Clinical Trial                                                                          
CVMO Chief Veterinary Medical Officer (VA)
DAEO Designated Agency Ethics Official
DCHV Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (VA)
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
DHS Department of Homeland Security
DMC Data Monitoring Committee
DME Durable Medical Equipment
DOD Department of Defense
DOR Determination of Rights
DRG Diagnostic Related Groups
DSMB Data and Safety Monitoring Board
DSMO Designated Standard Maintenance Organization (HIPAA abbreviation)
DTA Data Transfer Agreement
DUA Data Use Agreement
DUSHOM Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management (VHA)
ECF Executive Career Field (VA)
EOC Environment of Care Committee (VA)                                            
ESCCB Enterprise Security Change Control Board (VA)   
ESP Equivalent Security Provided
FDA Food and Drug Administration (DHHS)
FDAMA FDA Modernization Act of 1997 (Sec 561 of the Federal Food, Drug &
Cosmetic Act)
FFP Falsification, Fabrication, and Plagiarism
FISMA Federal Information Security Management Act
FMS Financial Management System
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FR Federal Register
FRAC Field Research Advisory Committee (VA)
FTC Federal Trade Commission
FTE Full Time Employee
FWA Federal-Wide Assurance (DHHS)
FY Fiscal Year
GAO Government Accountability Office                                                 
GCP Good Clinical Practice (FDA)
GLP Good Laboratory Practices (FDA)
GMP Good Manufacturing Practices (FDA)
GMPAC Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Committee
GPPC Genetics and Public Policy Center
GUIDE “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”
HDE Humanitarian Device Exemption (FDA)
HEPA
High Efficiency Particulate Air (as in HEPA filters used in biosafety cabinets
and BSL-3 facilities)
HHS Health and Human Services
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HRPP Human Research Protection Program
HUD Humanitarian Use Device (FDA)
HVAC Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning
IACUC Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee                                   
IBC Institutional Biosafety Committee
IDE Investigational Device Exemption (FDA)
IIP Installation In Progress
IND Investigational New Drug (FDA)
IO Institutional Official
IRB Institutional Review Board   
IRM Information Resource Management (VA)
ISA Interconnection Security Agreement (also known as SIA)
ISO Information Security Officer (VA)
IT Information Technology
LCMV Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (rodent pathogen)
LVA Leadership VA
MC Medical Center
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet                                                                 
NCI National Cancer Institute (NIH)
NHGRI National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH)
NIH National Institutes of Health (DHHS)
NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology
NLB National Leadership Board (VHA
NSF National Science Foundation
NSOC Network and Security Operations Center (VA)
NSR Non-Significant Risk (Medical Device) (FDA)
OBA Office of Biotechnology Activities (NIH)
OE Other Equipment (e.g., non-VAGFE) (VA)
OER Office of Extramural Research (NIIH)
OHRP Office for Human Research Protections (DHHS)   
OI&T Office of Information and Technology (VA)
OIG Office of Inspector General
OLAW Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH)                                        
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OMI Office of the Medical Inspector (VHA)
ORD Office of Research and Development (VHA)
ORI Office of Research Integrity (DHHS)
ORO Office of Research Oversight (VHA)
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
P&T Pharmacy & Therapeutics
PCA Plans for Corrective Action
PHI Protected Health Information
PHS Public Health Service (DHHS)
PI Principal Investigator
PKI Public Key Infrastructure (VA)
PO Privacy Officer
PRIM&R Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research
PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder                                                        
PVA Paralyzed Veterans of America
QA Quality Assurance
R&D Research and Development (VA)  
R&DC Research and Development Committee (VHA)
RAC Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (NIH)
RACO Research Assurance and Compliance Officer (VHA)
RCO Research Compliance Officer (VHA)
RDRC Radioactive Drug Research Committee (FDA)
RMS Rights Management Services
RO Regional Office (RO) (VA)
RO Responsible Official
RSC Radiation Safety Committee
SAE Serious Adverse Event
SAT Select Agents or Toxins
SCN Serious and Continuing Noncompliance
SIA System Interconnection Agreement (also known as ISA)      
SOP Standard Operating Procedures
SR Significant Risk (FDA)
SRS Subcommittee on Research Safety (of R&D Committee) (VA)
SSN Social Security Number
USC United States Code
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
VA Department of Veterans Affairs
VA CIO
VA Chief Information Officer; Assistant Secretary for Information and
Technology
VACO VA Central Office
VAGFE VA-owned Government Furnished Equipment
VAMC Veterans Affairs Medical Center
VAMC Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
VAPI VA Protected Information                                                           
VASI VA Sensitive Information  
VHA Veterans Health Administration
VISN Veterans Integrated Service Network
VMC Veterinary Medical Consultant (VA)
VMO Veterinary Medical Officer (VA)
VMU Veterinary Medical Unit (VA)
VPN Virtual Private Network
WOC Without Compensation (VA)