University of Pittsburgh

Center for Vaccine Research, Regional Biocontainment Laboratory

Pre-Grant/Contract Form

Instructions for use:

The following form must be completed by Principal Investigators prior to submitting sponsored project applications or negotiating any contracts that include potential work in the University of Pittsburgh, Center for Vaccine Research, Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL). Completion of this form is required to begin the review process necessary for obtaining a submission or contract negotiation approval letter from the Director of the RBL. A fully executed copy of this letter, must be obtained before the University of Pittsburgh, Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will authorize the final submission of sponsored projects or contracts referencing use the RBL.

The completed form should be returned to rbl@cvr.pitt.edu.

Please check the following box it you accept the disclaimer noted below:

“I acknowledge that the allocation and usage of space within the University of Pittsburgh, Center for Vaccine Research, Regional Biocontainment Laboratory is up to the discretion of the RBL Director in consultation with the RBL Core Team (Science, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR), Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and Facilities). I understand that one function of the RBL is to serve as a regional and national resource in the event of a natural or man-made outbreak of highly pathogenic infectious diseases. I accept that during a public health crisis, the RBL Director has the authority to delay or terminate studies to adequately fulfill a public health response as mandated by the funding agency National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID).”

☐ Accept	☐ Decline

Section 1: Administrative Information:

Name of Principal Investigator:	Click or tap here to enter text.
Grant or Contract Title:	Click or tap here to enter text.
Granting/Contracting Agency:	Click or tap here to enter text.

Date of Grant/Contract Submission:	Click or tap here to enter text.
Co-Principal Investigators or Co-Investigators on the Grant/Contract:	Click or tap here to enter text.
Principal Investigator’s Phone Number:	Click or tap here to enter text.
Principal Investigator’s Email Address:	Click or tap here to enter text.
Principal Investigator’s Department/Division	Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 2: Infectious Agent Information:

In the space noted below, please list the infectious agent(s) that are proposed for use with this project. Include species and strain information, if application and indicate if any of the infectious agents are classified as Select Agents.

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Section 3: Proposed in vitro Laboratory Work:

Will the proposed project require the use of in vitro laboratory space independent of animal work?
☐ Yes
☐ No If no, please skip to Section 4.

Is the laboratory work proposed project exclusive to the RBL?
☐ Yes
☐ No

Is there a signed Facilities Access Agreement in place for the named Principal Investigator (a)?
☐ Yes
☐ No

How many individuals are anticipated to use the in vitro laboratory space? Click or tap here to enter text.

The named PI must have an active and fully executed RBL Facilities Access Agreement in place before any work can begin. It is the responsibility of the PI to ensure that proper funding is budgeted and available to cover the access charges, through sponsored research funding or other University funding committed in conjunction with their departmental chair. The applicant must commit to cover the access costs for in vitro RBL space (as designated by the RBL Director) for the full duration of the award. RBL Access does not imply that unlimited dedicated space will be assigned to the PI. Although you are guaranteed the necessary space to complete your work, the RBL Director reserves the right to exercise operational control across the facility and in vitro space may need to be shared between PIs with time booked in advance. The RBL Director also reserves the right, with due notice, to reassign bookable laboratory space and relocate the PI if necessary.

Section 4: Proposed Animal (ABSL3) Work:

Does this proposed project involve animal work (b) (c) (d) (e)?
☐ Yes
☐ No If no, please skip to Section 5.

Please list all proposed animal species that will be used in this project.

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Please provide the anticipated maximum number of animals to be infected with each pathogen by species for the entire study.

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Please provide the anticipated number of infected animals by species to be housed in the RBL at any one time (i.e., cohort size).

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The RBL Director has overall operational control for all space within the RBL and works with the RBL Core Team to schedule and prioritize all in vivo studies. As such, there may be delays in performing animal studies given the significant pressures on the ABSL-3 space which is operated by the DLAR.

PIs may be required by DLAR to condense animal studies to increase the overall ABSL-3 facility throughput. This may be necessary to avoid ‘room blocking’. If this is not possible based on the experimental design or the PI fails to agree with the direction of the RBL Core Team the proposed in vivo experiments will be rescheduled by DLAR to a mutually convenient time. The decision of the RBL Director in consultation with the RBL Core Team on matters of ABSL-3 scheduling is final.

In order to facilitate animal studies and most efficiently utilize the ABSL-3 space, investigators housing animals in 8027J must have approval on their IACUC protocol to perform non-invasive procedures in the animal holding room. These procedures may include but are not limited to weighting, injections, subcutaneous fluids, blood collection and gavage. Approval will be verified prior to setting up an implementation meeting. Studies in 8027J will not be scheduled until IACUC approval is secured.

The Director of the CVR must agree to the use of CVR-purchased caging in writing prior to undertaking ABSL-3 studies.

Section 5: RBL Approval Letter:

Please provide the name and e-mail address of any individual you would like copied on the RBL Approval Letter.

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Section 6: Additional Information:

Please use the section below to provide the RBL Director and RLB Core Team with any additional information that you feel is pertinent to the proposed project.

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CVR Administrative Use Only

Assigned Form Number: Click or tap here to enter text.

Date Received: Click or tap here to enter text.

Approved by: Click or tap here to enter text.

Date Approved: Click or tap here to enter text.

Date OSP and PI Notified: Click or tap here to enter text.

Document Version: 4