NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS CLOSEOUT MEMORANDUM Case Number: A06050016 11 Page 1 of 1 11 During a review of REU site awards for compliance with human subject regulations and animal welfare policies, we identified an award1that potentially involved vertebrate animal research. Based on the award proposal and annual reports for the award, it appeared that students would be working with vertebrate animals. Upon review of the award cover page, it was apparent that the vertebrate animal box was not checked. When we contacted the in~titution,~ it reported that it had the appropriatg.IACUC approvals for the individual projects involving vertebrate animals but lacked the multi-project assurance approved by OLAW or an NSF single-project assurance. We then notified the institution of the NSF policy regarding vertebrate animal research found in section 713 of the NSF Grant Proposal Manual: Prior to the issuance of an award for a project involving use of vertebrate animals, the project must be approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) established through a multi-project assurance with the [OLAW] of the NIH, or else through a single-project assurance approved by the NSF. (Emphasis added) At our suggestion, the institution voluntarily suspended work under the award involving vertebrate animals until they had received a single-project assurance fkom NSF. Upon receipt, of the single-project assurance, the university resumed vertebrate animal work associated with the award. ~ We are satisfied that the institution has taken the appropriate steps toward compliance with NSF policies. 111 Accordingly, this case is closed. ' Redacted. Redacted. ,-, NSF OIG Form 2 (1 1/02)
Animal Subject Reg. Violation
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 2006-08-02.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)