Facility Access and Use Principles

As of September 1, 2021, FINDER staff, trainees and users are required to be vaccinated for any pathogen present in FINDER where a vaccine is readily available for this pathogen and listed in the Canadian immunization guide. This includes boosters for such vaccines.

All researchers must have approved biosafety and animal care protocols from the Biosafety committee and the Animal Care Committee.

All researchers must have completed all training and orientation requirements for access to FINDER.

Researchers requesting access to FINDER for conducting animal studies must have completed the appropriate animal training requirements.

All equipment and infrastructure in FINDER are considered to be shared resources and researchers must have received training where appropriate on the equipment. Any equipment needing repair or maintenance must be immediately reported to the FINDER manager or technician. Researchers may lead proposals to acquire new equipment and should coordinate this through the FINDER Research Platform Manager and the FINDER Steering Committee.

Bacterial and viral strains that are stored and maintained in FINDER and that have been described in the literature are a shared resource. Such materials will be available to other researchers upon request and signing of any relevant MTAs.

All equipment and infrastructure in FINDER are considered to be shared resources and researchers must have received training where appropriate on the equipment. Researchers may lead proposals to acquire new equipment and should coordinate this through the FINDER Research Platform Manager and the FINDER Steering Committee.

The FINDER Steering Committee provides guidance to the FINDER Research Platform Manager on prioritization of access.

The FINDER Research Platform Manager is responsible for optimizing the scheduling of access to space, equipment, material and supplies.

All users wishing to conduct studies in FINDER will be required to submit an application to the FINDER Research Platform Manager, which will be reviewed and may/may not be approved.

Budgets for any work to be carried out in FINDER and being proposed or funded by a private sector company must be based on full cost recovery. The FINDER Research Platform Manager must be consulted for obtaining a quote prior to the execution of a service agreement and/or research agreement via UILO.  

Any evidence or allegations of non-compliance with FINDER processes and procedures will be investigated as appropriate by the FINDER Research Platform Manager, the UBC Shared Research Facilities Manager, the Steering Committee and/or referred to other units, such as the Animal Care Committee and the Biosafety Committee.

FINDER will operate in a manner that is respectful of equity, diversity and inclusion principles.