PHS Protocol-Proposal Congruency
The principal funding source for live vertebrate animal research at the UMass Chan Medical School is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), primarily through the Public Health Service (PHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). PHS/NIH funding accounts for the majority of all award dollars granted to UMass Chan. The NIH Grants Policy Statement requires the institution to verify, before award, that the institution’s IACUC has reviewed and approved the animal work outlined in the proposal. Specifically, “It is an institutional responsibility to ensure that the research described in the application is congruent with any corresponding protocols approved by the IACUC.” (§4.1.1.2, NIH Grants Policy Statement 11/15).
Therefore, a congruency review is required for all funding that uses live vertebrate animals to ensure that the work described in the proposal comports with an active, approved protocol.
Federal Congruency Resources:
4.1.1.2 Verification of IACUC Approval:
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Frequency Asked Questions:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/faqs.htm#proto_10
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: