Permits, IACUC, and Documentation

HBS has facilitated field biology research for over 90 years, providing high-quality research, meeting, and residential facilities, field and lab equipment, data sets, and access to a diversity of field sites.  All researchers are expected to follow their home institution’s research protocols as well as HBS. If you are unsure what permits or documentation you’ll need for your research, please contact Dr. Jim Costa costa@email.wcu.edu. We recommend you file all paperwork several months prior to your visit.

Permits

Researchers are expected to secure the appropriate Federal or State permits if they seek to conduct research in the nearby National Forests or National Parks.  A permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission may be required as well.  Copies of all required permits must be provided to HBS prior to commencing research at HBS.

IACUC

In accordance with Federal law, researchers planning on conducting any work involving vertebrates at HBS must have an IACUC application approved by the HBS Animal Use & Care Committee prior to undertaking their research.  We recognize that researchers working with vertebrates go through the IACUC process at their home institution.  However, HBS cannot accept other institutions’ approved IACUC applications, but has a responsibility to require an IACUC application specific to proposed research based at or supported by HBS.  IACUC applications should be submitted at least 2 months prior to the anticipated start of research to allow for committee review. Send completed forms to Dr. Jim Costa (HBS Executive Director) at costa@email.wcu.edu.

1. For first time IACUC applications: Submit an HBS IACUC Application.

2. To modify an approved project: Submit a Modification Request Form prior to implementing any modifications to previously approved projects.

3. To continue a study in which the originally approved IACUC protocols are unchanged (with the possible exception of personnel involved), PI’s may submit a renewal request rather than a new IACUC application. Click here to download the HBS IACUC Renewal Request Form.

4. All individuals participating in HBS animal care and use activities are obligated to assure animal well-being for all animals engaged in such activities. If an adverse event/unanticipated event occurs, the individual having knowledge of the event is obligated to report or assure a report of the adverse event/unanticipated event has been reported to the HBS IACUC. Click here to download an Adverse Event Reporting Form and instructions. 

Data Management Policy

Researchers basing their work wholly or in part at HBS are expected to adhere to the HBS Data Management Policy for Researchers.

Acknowledgement & Research Products

Researchers making use of HBS facilities are asked to kindly acknowledge their HBS research support explicitly in the “acknowledgements” or financial support section of all publications stemming from their work at the Station, including theses/dissertations and scientific papers. Researchers are further requested to please promptly provide PDFs of all such publications, and consider sending a print copy of your thesis or dissertation to be added to the E. E. Reinke Library.  More than standard academic etiquette, such acknowledgement is vitally important for institutions like HBS, helping us both gauge the impact of our research support and document scientific productivity stemming from HBS support for university reporting, grant proposals, and more.