RAIS login & support

No. You can only work on one PAA at a time. The exception to this rule is the submission of the unanticipated event report form at any time after the original approval. 

If your study is close to expiring but you need to submit a request for amendments, you can submit the joint renewals with amendments form that allows you to submit your request for amendment and also provide you with annual renewal reporting on your study progress. 

Only Human Research Ethics administrators can change the Principal Investigator (PI).

If the PI is still at UVic and available to submit the request:

1. The PI will complete the notification of change of PI form, with signatures, and submit it with the amendment request form through RAIS. 
2. Ensure that any study documents (e.g. recruitment documents, consent/assent forms) get revised to reflect the change.

If the PI is no longer at UVic and unable to submit the request: 

1. The new PI will complete the notification of change of PI form, with signatures, and email it to the HRE office.
2. Once reviewed, the HRE office will change the PI and request that the new PI submits an amendment request form through RAIS.
3. Ensure that any study documents (e.g. recruitment documents, consent/assent forms) get revised to reflect the change.

How to submit an amendment in RAIS

Once the amendment is approved, the Human Research Ethics Board (HREB) will issue a new Certificate of Approval to the new PI (faculty or faculty supervisor).

Pre-reviews are preliminary reviews performed by the Veterinary Director that offer PIs the opportunity to have their AUPs consulted on prior to being formally submitted to the ACC. 

Pre-reviews provide valuable insight into items and AUP content that may be flagged by the committee during an ACC review. Additionally, they have been found to reduce the timeline to approval. 

Pre-reviews are available for both new and ongoing AUPs. SOPs are also eligible for pre-review, as supporting documents for AUPs. 

Submissions must be ready for pre-review four weeks prior to the ACC submission deadline for which you intend to apply, and are contingent on the Veterinary Director's availability. 

Note: Last-minute pre-review requests are unlikely to be accommodated.

Please email animalethics@uvic.ca expressing your interest in completing a pre-review. 

When eligibility is confirmed, submit your application via RAIS and inform animalethics@uvic.ca of your submission. 

Pre-review feedback will be available at least one week in advance of the next corresponding ACC submission deadline, to offer time for protocol updates and revisions prior to submission for ACC review. 

Research AUPs were available starting May 9, 2023.

Teaching AUPs are available starting September 26, 2024.

Investigators must start using RAIS to create and submit their new research and teaching AUPs, specific to:

• Animal-based research or teaching/training projects conducted in a lab environment (i.e., in Animal Care facilities and/or researcher lab facilities)
• Animal-based research or teaching/training projects that will combine lab and field components
• Animal-based research or teaching/training projects that will be fully based in field work (field researchers FAQ)

Starting May 9, 2023, new research AUPs much be submitted via RAIS. 

Starting Sept 21, 2023, investigators must submit new field research applications via RAIS.

Starting Sept 26, 2024, investigators must submit new teaching/training applications via RAIS.

If you have questions about submissions and timing, contact the animal ethics liaison for guidance.

All faculty should be able to start an AUP application on RAIS.

If you are faculty and you don’t have the start application button on the animal ethics RAIS portal, contact the animal ethics liaison.  

Yes, the RAIS AUP application has been updated and revised to ensure researchers are compliant with CCAC (Canadian Council on Animal Care) and UVic policies. Many of the questions will be familiar but there are many new questions and information requirements.

Review the "Quick guides" list for instruction on how to efficiently migrate PDF AUP content to a RAIS research or teaching application. 

The lab and field research AUP application helpsheet (see “Quick guides”) provides guidance for every section of the application including links to resources.

The teaching AUP application helpsheet is still in development. See “Quick guides” to reference the migration helpsheet.

If you still have questions, contact the animal ethics liaison with your question and they will provide guidance.

RAIS AUPs can be amended with the "+Update" button on the AUP summary page.  

RAIS now supports: 

• full amendments and expedited minor amendments
• annual renewals 
• completions

A PI must initiate  an "+Update". 

Updates include: 

• full amendments and expedited minor amendments
• annual renewals 
• completions

PIs must submit all renewals, amendments, or completions for their approved applications. Submissions cannot be made by team members. 

The Veterinary Director can approve an expedited minor amendment at their discretion on behalf of the ACC. The ACC Chair is notified and the expedited minor amendment is given final approval at the next ACC meeting.

 RAIS now supports expedited minor amendments.

The ACC meets monthly September through June. Consult the ACC deadline & meeting dates frequently for information on the meeting schedule and submission deadlines.