Animal Operations System Training Opportunities
We are reaching out to provide an important update on the timeline for the upcoming Huron Animal Operations (AOps) system rollout, which will change the way labs order animals, request transfers, imports, exports, and reserve procedure space. Our end-stage testing is complete and we are now able to provide specific dates for service outages and user trainings to ensure your lab is prepared for this major transition.
Remote and In-person Trainings, 7/19 – 7/30
Following this transition, knowledge of AOps will be critical to BU animal research activities and compliance. All lab members who interact with the Animal Science Center (ASC) in any capacity are strongly encouraged to attend all relevant Zoom trainings. Anyone who works directly with animals will want to attend the in-person training, on new cage cards, as well.
To sign up: Please visit BioRaft at https://bu.bioraft.com/. In BioRaft go to the “Training” tab on the left. Go to “Course Directory”. About halfway down is “IACUC, ASC, AALAS Trainings.” Select AOps user training. Once there, go to Sessions tab at the top, and sign up for a training with David, dwc01@bu.edu.
Learn to Use AOps (Zoom)
Remote training sessions will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from Monday, July 19 through Friday, July 30. There will be three sessions per day:
- Introduction to AOps and Cage Card 101: A brief overview of the system and training on how to use the AOps cage cards for weanings, separations, and deactivation of cage cards.
- Animal Orders and Imports: How to order and import animals to BU using AOps.
- Transfers and Exports: How to transfer animals and export animal using AOps.
Each day will cover all three of the topics discussed above in order. Researchers can attend one day of training or complete the training they need over different days.
Hands-on Training with New Cage Cards (In-Person)
In-person sessions will take place every Tuesday and Thursday between Monday, July 19, and Friday, July 30. Researchers are invited to attend these sessions after they have completed the Zoom trainings so they can try out the new cage cards and ask questions as needed.
Limited Activities During Roll-out Week, 8/2 – 8/10
We will need to limit certain activities inside our animal facilities during the system’s initial rollout week, which begins Monday, August 2, and extends through Tuesday, August 10. The following activities will be off-limits during this time frame:
- New animal deliveries will not be permitted from 8/2-8/10. Animals can be ordered during this period, but the delivery date will be scheduled for 8/11 or later.
- Animal transfers will not be permitted from 8/2-8/10. Transfers can be submitted during this period, but the transfers will not be moved until 8/11 or later. Once the system is live all transfers must be initiated within the AOps system.
- New colony support requests will not be accommodated from 8/2-8/10. We will continue to support ongoing colony support requests, but any new support will be scheduled for after the rollout is completed.
- Imports/exports will not happen from 8/2-8/10. You may submit requests during this time, but they will not be processed until 8/11 or later. After the system is live all imports/exports must be initiated within the AOps system.
*Software rollouts are a dynamic process; but with end stage testing complete we feel more confident about the go live dates. We will communicate any unexpected changes in dates if needed.
With your assistance, we look forward to a smooth and successful transition and are excited about the modernization of our program. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments.
For any concerns related to ASC operations, please email Chris Hallman (challman@bu.edu). If you have any questions related to the software implementation, contact Laurel Whalen (lawhalen@bu.edu).