Investigator Engagement: Somewhat Radical Considerations on Practices to Improve Animal Care Program Compliance

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Research Compliance
• Animal Welfare Science

Background:

• Regulatory burden in animal research is under scrutiny.
• Balancing animal welfare with research missions presents ongoing challenges for institutions.
• Effective investigator engagement is crucial for successful animal research programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose strategies for enhancing investigator engagement within Animal Care Programs.
• To encourage transparency and tailored educational initiatives in research compliance.
• To adapt patient engagement concepts from the medical field to improve stakeholder communication in animal research.

Main Methods:

• Adopting principles of patient engagement, adherence, and enrollment from medical practices.
• Implementing collaborative orientations and providing assistance with self-evaluations.
• Promoting timely self-reporting and developing meaningful, directed training initiatives.

Main Results:

• Potential for increased trust, understanding, and communication among stakeholders.
• Framework for innovative approaches to foster investigator engagement in compliance.
• Strategies aim to resonate with contemporary animal care programs.

Conclusions:

• Adopting patient engagement models can enhance trust and communication in animal research programs.
• Transparency, tailored training, and collaborative efforts are key to bolstering investigator engagement.
• These strategies offer a framework for balancing animal welfare with research objectives.