Complex for Forensic Anthropology Research Policy

/https://siu.edu/search-results.php

Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023, 09:13 AM

Complex for Forensic Anthropology Research Policy

Purpose

To establish a process for oversight of the Complex for Forensic Anthropology Research (CFAR) that will assure compliance with applicable institutional, state, local and federal regulations and will protect faculty, staff, students and other persons utilizing the facility, as well as those individuals who may decide to make anatomical gifts to the CFAR.

Background

The Department of Anthropology has created the CFAR, through which the department plans to conduct research and training for other researchers, law enforcement and students.  The primary research focus of CFAR is the rate and pattern of decomposition of bodies in the Southern Illinois environment.  In order to accomplish this, CFAR incorporates carcasses of dead animals and would like to solicit donations of human remains.  Similar forensic research sites exist at other institutions around the country.

General Requirements

The CFAR must comply with applicable university policies for sponsored research administrative requirements; responsible conduct of research; environmental, health and bio-safety; fund-raising; public safety; and other requirements as may now or in the future apply to the facility.  In addition, the CFAR must comply with applicable local, state and federal codes, statutes and laws as are applicable to such facilities.

Policy

CFAR Coordinator

The Chair of the Department of Anthropology shall annually appoint a faculty member as the Coordinator of the CFAR.  The Coordinator will be responsible for:

  1. Assuring that the CFAR meets the requirements of this policy and all other appropriate regulations, laws, statutes and codes;
  2. Assuring that faculty, staff and students using the facility are compliant with the training and/or certification requirements of this policy;
  3. Keeping accurate, up-to-date records of the faculty, students and staff authorized to access the facility, keys that have been assigned to authorized users, use of the facility for external constituents, incident reports and training records;
  4. Keeping accurate records of all donations of anatomical remains, consent or intent to donate, and other records pertaining the donated remains and their final disposition;
  5. Coordinating with the appropriate offices, as detailed below, to schedule an annual inspection of the CFAR;
  6. Preparing and submitting an annual report on the operation of the CFAR, as detailed below;
  7. Prepare and submit to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) a facility safety plan and an emergency preparedness plan (and revise the plans as necessary);
  8. Prepare and maintain a written procedures manual for the CFAR, addressing safety, training, access, anatomical donations, and other pertinent policies; and
  9. Respond to public or internal requests for information or complaints or concerns involving the CFAR.

Annual Inspection

The CFAR will be inspected no less than annually by a team consisting of members of the Human Subjects Committee, Bio-safety Committee, Center for Environmental Health and Safety (CEHS), Public Safety and other university departments as may be deemed necessary by the Director of the Center for Environmental Health and Safety, in consultation with the Vice Chancellor for Research.

Annual Report

An annual report on the operation of the CFAR will be submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Research by July 1 of each year.  This report will, at a minimum, detail:

  1. The number and type of remains that were at the CFAR in the previous year;
  2. Number of sponsored research or other awards that were received for work involving the CFAR;
  3. Reported incidents and how those incidents were addressed;
  4. Any inspections or visits by external entities;
  5. Any inquiries from the public or media concerning the CFAR and the responses to those inquiries;
  6. Number and type of faculty, staff and students who participated in research or training at the CFAR;
  7. Number and type of faculty, staff and students who received training to conduct research at the facility;
  8. Number of anatomical donation consent forms received and number of human remains received; and
  9. Advertising and promotion of the anatomical gift program.

Approvals

The Coordinator of the CFAR will obtain approval from the appropriate University oversight unit for any of the following:

  1. Establishment or revisions of the CFAR policy or process for soliciting donations of human remains;
  2. Proposed relocation, expansion or redesign of the CFAR facility;
  3. Revisions to the CFAR safety and emergency preparedness plans;
  4. Responses to public inquiries about the CFAR;
  5. Changes in the research or training purposes of the CFAR;
  6. Any change in the CFAR standard operating procedures;
  7. Any non-compliance of the CFAR to this policy or other applicable regulations or policies;
  8. Reporting of accidents involving internal or external users of the CFAR; or
  9. Any breach of CFAR security.

Training

All faculty, staff and students using the CFAR facility, whether for research or training, will be required to take the following training before entering the facility.  This training must be updated every two years.  Records certifying that all personnel have taken the training must be maintained by the Coordinator of the CFAR in the Department of Anthropology as per an approved retention schedule.

  • CITI Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research
  • CITI Research with Data or Laboratory Specimens
  • CITI Biosafety and Biosecurity
  • CEHS training on blood borne pathogens

Noncompliance

At any time that the CFAR is determined to be in noncompliance with this policy, or with any other applicable state, federal, local or university policy, such non-compliance must be reported immediately to the Vice Chancellor for Research or his/her designee.

The Vice Chancellor for Research will investigate any non-compliance and, in consultation with the appropriate university or other authorities, make a determination of the extent of non-compliance. The VCR will work with the CFAR Coordinator, Chair of the Department of Anthropology and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts to rectify the non-compliance and/or develop a management plan to address deficiencies in the operation of the CFAR.

Until non-compliance is rectified or a suitable management plan is agreed upon and in place, the CFAR must suspend any on-going research or training programs and the Coordinator must take steps to restrict access to the facility for all persons other than those necessary to assure the facility’s’ security.

Responsibilities

Department of Anthropology is responsible for general oversight of the CFAR and its use, appointment of a CFAR Coordinator and compliance with applicable regulations, policies and requirements.

Applicable Policies and Regulations (as of 6.2.2014)

University

State of Illinois