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##. Whistleblower Policy for The Scripps Research Institute and the Use of Animals in Laboratory Research.
The care and treatment of laboratory animals is of great concern to the management and staff of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). All use of animals at TSRI must conform to federal, state and local laws and regulations. TSRI's Institutional Care and Use Committee (IACUC), as mandated by regulations, reviews and approves all proposed uses of animals in research. No research using animals can be conducted without having an IACUC-approved protocol. TSRI authorizes the use of animals in research activities only if reasonable alternatives do not exist and only if the use of animals is scientifically justified. TSRI ensures the humane care and use of laboratory animals used in research, teaching or testing at TSRI.
Any employee who has concerns about the use of laboratory animals in research, or is witness to improper care and/or treatment of laboratory animals, is encouraged and, moreover, expected to report such concerns in a timely manner. Reports may be verbal or in writing and may be direct or anonymous to any of the following parties:
- Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
- Vice President, Research Services (CA)
- Vice President, Scientific Operations (FL)
- Chair or any current member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
(CA,FL)
- Any of the veterinary staff in the Department of Animal Resources (CA) and Animal Resource Center (FL)
- Any member of the IACUC Office staff (CA,FL)
Anonymous reports may also be submitted via TSRI's IACUC web-site, accessed at http://iacuc.scripps.edu/default.cfm?page=report, and TSRI's Anonymous Telephone Hotline System provided by EthicsPoint, Inc., an independent third party, available at 1-866-493-1847. Information about the hotline and making a report is accessed at http://www.scripps.edu/services/anonreporting/.
A prompt investigation will be conducted and reported to the appropriate IACUC and administrative officials. If necessary, additional reports will be filed with federal and accreditation oversight bodies. TSRI will take reasonable steps to ensure that an employee who makes a report is not subject to retaliation with respect to the terms and conditions of their employment or other status at TSRI and will review instances of alleged retaliation for appropriate action in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, 42 C.F.R. Part 50 - Policies of General Applicability, Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, DHHS, ORI "Guidelines for Institutions and Whistleblowers: Responding to Possible Retaliation Against Whistleblowers in Extramural Research", and the relevant California Government Code sections.
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