Over 2023, the Office of the Vice Provost of Research (OVPR) conducted a selection process to select a software package to replace our aging ARIES, POLARIS, SHEPHERD, and ACCR systems.
After reviewing dozens of possible packages, we are pleased to announce that we have selected a-tune’s tick@lab software suite (https://www.a-tune.com/).
This software will include both IACUC and animal operations functionality – everything from drafting and approving protocols, through requisitioning new animals, through animal care to the end of the animal’s life.
Over the next two years, we will begin configuration of the new software with plans for rollout around the end of 2026.
We are excited to introduce this new software and to continue our status as one of the world’s leading research institutions.
Out of the box tick@lab portal, before we Configure for Penn’s use
Having completed a Discovery Phase with a-tune in Q1 2024, in which we matched up the needs from the University to the off-the-shelf software, we are now beginning to Configure the tick@lab system to meet Penn’s business requirements.
This phase is expected to run from May 2024 through October 2025.
Concurrent with this Configuration, a-tune is developing additional Customizations to their core software to further extend their support for Penn’s needs.
tick@lab will consolidate the functionality we currently have in ARIES, POLARIS, ACCR, and SHEPHERD and from various web forms.
The system will be a one-stop to create and approve new protocols, to requisition animals, to manage husbandry operations, and access electronic animal health records.
All information about protocols, operational data, and billing should be available in the same system.
The new system should save users time and increase accuracy and availability of the information they need.
For more information, please see our web page on the OVPR website, here: https://portal.research.upenn.edu/animal-operations-system/
For any questions, please reach out to Brian Kitson (bkitson@upenn.edu) or Tim Zuponcic (timz@upenn.edu), the program managers for this implementation.
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Available now, manage your grant portfolio using Grant Financial Management (GFM)!
GFM provides researchers and administrative staff a streamlined approach to managing budgets and projections for their sponsored projects. For more information use the button below where a brief video introduction to the system is available along with other resources.
This new application provides Faculty with a single location for the disclosure of outside interests and activities and a method of conducting research-relatedness assessments, thereby facilitating the obligations as required by certain funding agencies and supporting compliance with Penn policies. Specifically, this tool will help identify and manage Financial Conflicts of Interest (FCOIs) and includes FCOI training.
RIA integrates with and leverages data from existing Penn systems, including Penn Community, PennERA, HS-ERA, Inteum, and the Research Inventory System (RIS) to simplify the disclosure process.
