Introducing the Pave Program

The Post-Approval Verification & Education (PAVE) Program at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is designed to foster a collaborative partnership between the university and its research community. Its mission is to ensure adherence to regulatory standards while promoting responsible and ethical research practices.

The program supports investigators conducting research involving human participants, animals, and biohazards, as approved by UTEP’s oversight committees, including the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Recognizing the complexities of regulatory compliance, the PAVE Program provides tailored guidance, education, and practical resources to assist investigators and their teams throughout the research process. Its efforts are guided by three core pillars:

• Education: Providing timely access to relevant training, educational resources, and practical tools that enhance researchers’ understanding of regulatory requirements and encourage ethical research conduct.
• Assessment: Conducting ongoing, collaborative evaluations of research activities to verify alignment with approved protocols, identify opportunities for improvement, and support continuous quality enhancement.
• Protocol Review: Assisting investigators in maintaining adherence to their approved study plans through thorough protocol reviews, facilitating clarifications or amendments when necessary, and ensuring compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.

The PAVE Program adopts a collegial and constructive approach, emphasizing continuous improvement through clear communication and mutual respect. It is committed to working closely with Principal Investigators to proactively identify challenges, clarify expectations, and support sustainable compliance.

The program envisions a research environment grounded in integrity, accountability, and transparency. By empowering investigators and their teams with the necessary knowledge and support, the PAVE Program advances UTEP’s commitment to research excellence and fosters innovative, responsible practices.

Goals, Objectives, and Focus

The primary goal of the Post-Approval Verification & Education (PAVE) Program is to enhance research performance and regulatory compliance at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) by partnering with researchers to ensure consistency between approved protocols and actual research activities. The program is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical and regulatory compliance through comprehensive practice support, internal review, and ongoing education.

PAVE functions as an internal, collegial review mechanism designed to identify and assess potential areas of noncompliance while offering targeted resources to assist research teams in maintaining alignment with their approved study plans.

When potential concerns arise, PAVE collaborates closely with investigators and oversight committees to resolve issues promptly, restore compliance, and foster sustainable improvements in research operations.

• Observational Compliance: Promote ethical and compliant research practices by verifying that ongoing studies adhere to approved protocols through a respectful and collaborative review process.
• Education and Support: Deliver tailored tools, training, and guidance to Principal Investigators and their research teams to address identified gaps and encourage excellence in research conduct.
• Systemic Impact: Identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement across research activities to inform broader educational initiatives and elevate institutional research quality and compliance.

The PAVE Program applies to all research overseen by UTEP’s IACUC, IBC, and IRB. It ensures equitable access to oversight, resources, and educational support throughout the university’s research community.

Key Benefits of the PAVE Program

The PAVE Program fosters a research environment grounded in integrity, compliance, and ongoing education, providing meaningful benefits to investigators, the institution, and the wider research community.

Key Benefits of the PAVE Program include:

• Enhanced Regulatory Compliance: Strengthening adherence to federal regulations and institutional policies.
• Ongoing Compliance Assistance: Offering continuous support throughout the research process.
• Proactive Support, Not Prunitive Oversight: Emphasizing collaboration and guidance rather than enforcement alone.
• Operational Improvement: Identifying opportunities to optimize research practices and procedures.
• Tailored Education and Resources: Delivering training and tools customized to the needs of investigators and their teams.
• Collaborative Research Environment: Building strong partnerships between researchers and oversight entities.

The goal of post-approval verification and education is not to “catch” you doing something you aren’t supposed to be doing. The goal is to verify that research is being conducted in a manner that meets federal regulations and university policy by assisting researchers in identifying and correcting any deficiencies.

We work together to keep you in compliance!