ANNOUNCEMENT: Researchers can now submit their IACUC Exemption requests and Umbrella Protocol requests on the specified forms in Topaz.
Submit or Manage a Protocol
Accessing Topaz Elements
Adding personnel to the protocol
Staff members need to be added to the Topaz Elements system before they can be added to your online protocol form. Contact AWP to make arrangements at awp@hawaii.edu.
Adding supportive documents and links to your protocol
Where a paperclip icon is present in the question’s title bar, add attachments and links associated to clarify on your response to the question.
Submitting Full Renewals
Do not use the “Create Renewal Protocol” for full renewals. To submit a full, 3-year renewal protocol, select “Create Original Protocol” and then choose the “IACUC 3-Year Renewal Form“. In the Project Objective question, answer Yes to: Is this a full renewal (3-year interval)?
Requesting an IACUC Exemption
Submit your exemption request in Topaz. Use the “Create Original Protocol” function and then select “IACUC Exemption Request Form”. Exemptions are issued for 1) those studies that use animal tissues, samples, or antibodies only (no live vertebrate animal use) and 2) studies that involve observation of animals only with no animal handling or manipulation of the natural environment.
IACUC “Umbrella” Protocols
Submit your umbrella protocol request in Topaz. Use the “Create Original Protocol” function and then select “IACUC Umbrella Request Form”. Umbrella approvals are issued for institutional (infrastructure) type or training grants where the research details are not yet defined. The umbrella protocol is a “promise” from the PI that no vertebrate animal activities will be conducted before a full IACUC protocol is submitted and approved.
FAQs
Contact the Animal Welfare Program at (808) 956-7733 or email at awp@hawaii.edu for instructions and questions regarding logging onto the TOPAZ system for submitting a protocol to use vertebrate animals in research, teaching, or testing.