Purpose

To establish the roles and responsibilities for the Scientists and Technicians-in-Charge of the UC Davis vivaria.

Background

The Scientist-in-Charge is typically a UC Davis faculty member within the unit of the animal facility that is responsible for assuring the Technician-in-Charge is performing their duties as outlined below. The Scientists-in-Charge meet quarterly with the Technician-in-Charge and Attending Veterinarian, and participate in IACUC semiannual inspections.

The Technician-in-Charge is a UC Davis faculty or staff member that has direct responsibility for an animal facility, and serves as the point-of-contact for the Attending Veterinarian and the IACUC in matters related to vivarium management, animal health concerns, and compliance with animal care and use protocols. They should be highly trained and qualified to adequately perform the duties outlined below.

Policy

Both the Scientists and Technicians-in-Charge must be trained and qualified to perform the following duties:

A.  Facility Operations:

1. Provide written standard operating procedures for the vivarium.
2. Develop and maintain an emergency disaster plan for the animal facility.
3. Develop and maintain a security plan for the animal facility.
4. Report facility maintenance concerns promptly to Facilities and/or the Attending Veterinarian and/or the Scientists-in-Charge.
5. Provide guidance to minimize cross contamination between animals.
6. Develop a pest control plan for the animal facility.
7. Develop an environmental enrichment program (if appropriate).
8. Ensure proper function of mechanical systems including cage washer, autoclaves, HVAC, ventilated racks, etc.

 

B.  Training:

1. Provide training for animal care staff in their facility.
2. Maintain training records for the animal care staff.

C.  Compliance:

1. Maintain the animal facility in accordance with animal welfare regulations, policies, and guidelines.
2. Ensure research personnel working in the vivaria, including the Principal Investigators, are listed and in compliance with their animal care and use protocols.
3. If noncompliance issues arise that are not corrected, report deviations from animal care and use protocols to the IACUC.
4. Ensure animal care personnel working in the vivaria are participating in the occupational health program.
5. Maintain a monthly census of animals and file monthly census reports to the Office of the Attending Veterinarian.
6. Ensure animal transportation conforms to IACUC approved procedures and guidelines.
7. Ensure maintenance of animal room records.
8. Maintain copies of current animal care and use protocols.

D.  Veterinary Care Program:

1. Ensure that the Office of the Attending Veterinarian is notified promptly of animal health concerns.
2. Ensuring that all animal health records including medical records and mortality records are maintained.
3. Depending on the vivarium (or for rodent housing) ensure the appropriate number of sentinels are in place.
4. Ensure that the Veterinary Care Program is being followed.
5. Participate in quarterly team meetings with other Technicians-in-Charge, the Attending Veterinarian, and the IACUC Administrator.

Approved by IACUC: 9/30/04