A novel interactive electronic protocol review system

This report describes a new protocol review system which was designed as a Lotus Notes database. This system encompasses an elements of investigator p rotocol generation, review and approval by the laboratory animal veterinari an and institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC), and notificatio n of approval to personnel responsible for animal ordering. Unique features of the system are interactive dialog between IACUC members and the investi gator and confidential protocol discussion among IACUC members. The advanta ges of the system are multiple: 1. it allows for interactive protocol discu ssion online; 2. it is an essentially paperless process; 3. inclusion of th e outside IACUC member is easily accomplished by using an offsite personal computer and secure remote local-area network access; 4. the time required for protocol generation, review, and approval is streamlined due to the aut omatic features of the database and the speed of e-mail; and 5. all documen tation relating to the protocol and the approval process is archived online .