Animal Research Online (ARO)

Login to ARO (Animal Research Online)

IMPORTANT!

There has been a rule change regarding annual and three-year renewals. The due date for approval is now three years from the exact original approval date (rather than the last day of the month of such). For instance, if your protocol was originally approved on 6/15/15, the annual renewal must be approved by 6/14/16 and the three-year renewal must be approved 6/14/18.

Please note that failure to renew a protocol that covers currently housed animals, jeopardizes the continuation of the animal protocol and could result in suspension of animal use privileges and confiscation of animals.

Accessing ARO

Obtain login credentials for ARO

You should use the same login address for ARO that you use for logging into the system for web-based training (the HSConnect system). All users who have completed the standard animal investigator training modules ("Research Integrity" and "Use of Laboratory Animals in Research and Education") should have access to the system. However, only PITT faculty members and senior staff members have the ability to initiate a new protocol submission.

Access Requirements

Anyone who has completed the "Research Integrity" training module in addition to completing the "Use of Laboratory Animals in Research and Education" training module during the past 3 years should have access to the ARO system. If you cannot login to the system, please make sure that your training is current by logging into the training system (http://cme.hs.pitt.edu/). If training is current, please contact the IACUC Office for assistance (412-383-2008).

Student access for ARO

Once a protocol is approved, any person listed on the protocol can read the protocol online by logging into ARO. However, students will be unable to initiate a new protocol application in the system. As a security feature, only University of Pittsburgh faculty members and senior staff members can initiate a new protocol application.

Resources

A comprehensive user manual for ARO: ARO USER GUIDE (pdf)

Live training sessions on the use of ARO occur every Thursday at 2 p.m. in the IACUC Office: room 206 of the Hieber Building (located on Fifth Avenue across from the BST-III; Hieber's pharmacy is located in the same building). Space is limited; reservations should be arranged through Michael Kessler (mckessle@pitt.edu).

Questions or comments about ARO

Contact us at 412-383-2018 or iacuc@pitt.edu

Guiding Principles

The ARO development team has committed to the following:

Minimize administrative burden on faculty and staff who prepare, review, and administrate IACUC protocol.

Provide protocol data for investigators, animal care staff, environmental health staff, and compliance officers.

Maintain a balance between the collection of necessary data and providing the greatest ease of use.

Maintain appropriate system transparency, while ensuring the safety and security of investigators.