Email communications from the Animal Care & Use Program are largely informed by an individual’s assigned role on an active animal use protocol.
Most emails are auto generated by the software systems (e.g., eRAM, Cornerstone Learning, Enterprise Health) that our Program relies upon to maintain regulatory compliance, manage multi-faceted research projects, and track training required by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC).
As a standard best practice, all Principal Investigators (PIs) and/or individuals with a PI Proxy Role in eRAM should review their active protocol(s) at least annually and remove any individuals who no longer work with animals.
This type of routine protocol maintenance provides many benefits, including:
- Prevention of issues that may arise due to personnel training non-compliance
- Faster processing of protocol renewals and approvals
- Minimizing the number of system-generated email notifications and reminders sent to PIs/Study Teams
Removing Personnel from a Protocol
Instructions for removing personnel from a protocol are available via the Create an Amendment in eRAM Help Document. Please note that although a Protocol Editor may create a Personnel Amendment, only the PI or PI Proxy may submit the amendment.
Preparing Personnel for the AAALAC 2026 Site Visit
As we prepare for the U-M’s next re-accreditation visit by AAALAC, International (AAALAC) this summer 
(i.e., June – August 2026), it is important to note that Site Visitors may ask questions of any individual working in your laboratory during the Site Visit.
As such, preparation materials should be reviewed by any individual who will be working in your laboratory throughout the Site Visit, especially those who have not participated in a previous AAALAC Site Visit or who may be new to animal care and use at the university.
Consistent with the processes used for semi-annual IACUC facility inspections, all laboratories should identify at least one spokesperson that will be available to meet with the Site Visit Team. It is fine for the PI and, for example, a technician who conducts procedures daily, to serve in this capacity.
Collectively, the PI and/or spokesperson must:
- Be able to summarize the scope of your research;
- Be able to produce either a current paper or electronic copy of your IACUC approved protocol (if it is electronic, all personnel conducting animal activities should be able to access via eRAM);
- Have access to any controlled substances and records (i.e., surgical and peri-operative care records; controlled substance/drug use records) the AAALAC Site Visit Team may want to review;
- Have detailed knowledge (the specific procedures) of your IACUC approved protocols.
Spokesperson(s) must be available during scheduled visit times, which will be announced closer to the Site Visit date(s). It is strongly recommended that each laboratory identify at least TWO other individuals who can serve as secondary contacts to fill-in in case of emergency or other unforeseen circumstances during the Site Visit.
Laboratory spokesperson(s) can be assigned via eRAM by PIs, PI Proxies, or a member of the Quality Assurance (QA) Team in the Animal Care & Use Office. For step-by-step instructions, please review the eRAM Manage Visit Spokesperson Help Document.
Questions?
For assistance with protocol maintenance, or submitting a personnel amendment, contact the QA Team at [email protected].
Links marked with a lock icon can only be accessed using valid U-M login credentials.