• All ARC applications must be submitted using UCLA's web-based submission program, RATS (Research Application Tracking System).
• For new, renewal, and continuation applications, a Pre-Committee Review prior to submission to the ARC is required. This pre-review process is designed to address animal care issues and ensure completeness of your application prior to Committee review. If recommended changes are not incorporated into the application, the Principal Investigator must provide explanations in the final application to be submitted to the ARC. If Pre-Committee Review comments are not incorporated or addressed in your application prior to submission to the ARC, the protocol will not be reviewed by the Committee, and your application will be returned to you. Note! A Pre-Committee Review is not required for the following types of applications: 1) All applications requesting approval for experiments conducted entirely at another institution; 2) All applications requesting approval for sharing of animal tissues only (i.e., no live animal use); and 3) Amendment applications.
• For renewal and continuation applications, please provide one of the following: a) citation(s) of presentations or articles resulting from this protocol (either accepted or submitted. please include abstract), OR b) a brief (1 or 2 sentences) update regarding progress made toward achieving the scientific objective(s) of the protocol, OR c) a copy of the most recent annual progress report submitted to the funding agency. This information is intended to help the ARC document the progress made toward achieving the scientific objectives of the protocol and justify the continued use of animals.
• Renewal and continuation applications must also include a description of any unanticipated problems or adverse events that have occurred, regardless of cause, as well as an explanation of how these events/problems were resolved.
• The application must be submitted by the Principal Investigator.
• For new and renewal applications, Investigators are asked to describe and justify the total number of animals needed for experiments to be performed over a three-year period. Studies that are expected to last less than 3 years should detail the number of animals required to achieve the research goals and complete the study.
• In describing the proposed research, please provide sufficient detail to assist the ARC in its review. Once approved, an application becomes a public document and, upon request, the University may be required under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and/or California Public Records Act to release a copy to the public. Therefore, Investigators should make every effort to prepare protocols that are appropriately non-technical and clear enough for a lay member to understand. Along these lines, Investigators should also make an effort to not include unnecessary detail (e.g., names of staff outside of the Personnel section, locations of research outside of the Locations section) or potentially inflammatory language in the protocol. For guidance, please contact the ARC administrative office (arc@research.ucla.edu).
• In replying to Committee queries, references to grant applications which lack detail are not acceptable and will delay the processing of your application. Answers should be specific to the question asked and should be incorporated into the appropriate section of the online application.
• Submit one copy of each grant/contract proposal listed in the Proposals/Awards section to the ARC administrative office (arc@research.ucla.edu).