A reorganization in the regulatory compliance area will provide new contacts and more immediate assistance for those involved in university research projects.

All regulatory compliance functions now report directly to Dr. Robert Altenkirch, vice president for research, with Tracy Arwood serving as regulatory compliance officer. Formerly, the area reported to the director of sponsored programs administration.

"The research vice president is the responsible official for federal regulations concerning animal care, use of human subjects in research and other issues," Altenkirch explained. "This reporting arrangement is logical and more efficient."

Regulatory compliance includes five compliance areas: the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research, commonly called IRB; the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; Radiological Safety; Hazardous Waste Management; and Biosafety.

In addition to streamlining compliance procedures, the new arrangement also provides additional support for an increasing workload in the regulatory compliance area.

"IRB protocols have doubled in the past three years, and IACUC protocols have doubled in the last decade, with no increase in infrastructure support," Altenkirch said.

In addition to Arwood, contacts and positions include:
—Dr. John Harkness, laboratory animal veterinarian.
—Dr. Michele Wilkinson, associate laboratory animal veterinarian.
—Jerri Wright, regulatory compliance coordinator.
—Nancy Ray, environmental safety assistant.
—Michael Parsons, hazardous waste officer.
—Terry Coggins, radiation safety officer.
—Dr. Frank Champlin, biosafety officer.

For more information, visit the regulatory compliance web site at www.msstate.edu/dept/spa/regcompstart. html or telephone 325-3994.