MinerAlert
Elaine Joseph, Ph.D. CPIA
Associate Vice President for Research
Research Compliance and Regulatory Assurances supports research investigators and staff through the administration of research compliance in the areas of human subjects, animal care and use, biological safety, export controls, research security, responsible conduct of research, research misconduct, conflict of interest, and other programs deemed necessary for the maintenance and assessment of essential research compliance activities.
Our goal is to assist researchers by monitoring regulatory changes and recommending institutional responses to ensure compliance and oversee the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and educational activities which satisfy federal, state and institutional regulations governing the conduct of research.
Athena Fester, MS
Executive Director
Research Compliance and Regulatory Assurances provides faculty, staff and student support related to human, animal, and recombinant DNA research. Each unit (IRB, IACUC, LARC, IBC and PAVE) is charged with the responsibility to formulate and implement procedures to assure UTEP’s compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations for safeguarding the welfare and well-being of humans and animals involved in research, in which UTEP is engaged or otherwise exercises oversight.
Victor Manjarrez
Director
The Office of Research Protections supports The University of Texas at El Paso’s research community in its commitment to high standards of research integrity, export control, research security, and scholarly excellence. We promote ethical behavior and best practices by anticipating risk and communicating research compliance standards for meeting research goals. Our aim is to provide relevant training, awareness, and clear processes that assist faculty and staff to be successful in their external funding endeavors.
Jeana Barrow, DVM, MS
Director
The Laboratory Animal Resources Center supports research investigators and their team members by providing animal husbandry and veterinary care, upholding animal welfare, maintaining good regulatory standing, and striving for accreditation. With the branches of the Research Compliance and Regulatory Assurances department, the department is instrumental in supporting the advancement of science, medicine, and biotechnology development.
Pedro Palermo, MS PhD
Manager
The BSL-3 Laboratory at the University of Texas at El Paso is a biocontainment facility designed to handle infectious agents safely. Our aim is to provide a safe working environment for conducting research activities on BSL-3 Level microbes that cause serious and potentially lethal diseases. Work in the BSL-3 laboratory includes basic and translational research focusing on development, treatment, and prevention strategies.
Richard Bartlett
IRB Administrator
UTEP’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves human subject research (HSR) for the purpose of protecting the rights and welfare of those subjects. The Board is charged with the responsibility to formulate and implement procedures to assure UTEP’s compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations for the safeguarding of the welfare and well-being (physical, mental, social, legal, etc.) of human subjects involved in research projects in which UTEP is engaged or otherwise exercises oversight.
Ana L. Blanco, B.S., CPIA
IACUP Administrator
The vision of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Program (IACUP) office is to uphold the highest standards of ethical and humane treatment of animals in research and education. We are committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, promoting responsible research practices, and fostering a culture of compassion and respect for animal welfare. Through rigorous review processes, ongoing education, and support, we aim to balance scientific progress with the duty to minimize animal distress and enhance their well-being.
Jaisel Cervantes
IBC Coordinator
As the IBC coordinator I am responsible for supporting the institutional biosafety committee by ensuring with biosafety regulations and promoting safe research practices that involve the usage of recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids. I organize IBC meetings, work with researchers, regulatory agencies, and institutional staff to maintain compliance with biosafety regulations to ensure compliance with biosafety guidelines. Additionally, oversee that all personnel conducting research is current with their biosafety training.
Greg Ohara
Business Manager
The Laboratory Animal Resources Center (LARC) is committed to providing UTEP faculty, staff and students with veterinary and personnel training and expertise in laboratory animal technology and medicine. LARC exists to promote humane animal care and use in support of UTEP’s research goals through compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and our own IACUC and departmental policies. The LARC advises and educates researchers on animal experimentation issues and provides guidance and review in the protocol writing process, while promoting contemporary best practices for the responsible use of animals. Our goal is provision of quality animal care which is key to obtaining consistent and reliable data.
Turi Keil, B.S.B, CHRM
Administrator
UTEP’s Post Approval Verification and Education (PAVE) program monitors research projects to confirm that the research is being conducted as approved, ensuring compliance with the federal regulations and guidelines that govern research.
The goal of compliance monitoring is to confirm, by observation direct communication with researchers, accurate and consistent protocol performance in a collegial and unobtrusive manner. Another goal of the PAVE program is to ensure the well-being of human and animal subjects in research.
The PAVE program is not designed to “catch” individuals; rather, it is designed to verify that research is being conducted as approved. Monitoring will allow the PI to respond to any identified trend, resolving the deficiency and getting back into compliance in a quick and efficient manner to ensure that research is not delayed or compromised.