Onboarding

Welcome to our vibrant community here at the Bioscience Support Facility (BSF)!

To gain access to BSF spaces, you must complete the following:

1. Register

• Submit the Registration Form

2. Training

• Complete the DCM Training Request Form and submit it to bsftraining@utoronto.ca
  • Rodent Users
    • Complete the Online Ethics module AND Mouse/Rat module.
    • Additional training such as CL2, anesthesia, surgery will be scheduled based on the information provided on our registration form.
    • For CL2 training you must complete the online Laboratory Biosafety and Respiratory Protection courses and be fit-tested for a N95 respirator. Visit the EHS website for information and registration.
  • Fish Users
    • Complete the Online Ethics module AND Fish module.
    • Complete the Documentation of External Training and submit it to aec.training@utoronto.ca
  • Turtle/Frog Users
    • Complete the Online Ethics module.
    • Complete the Documentation of External Training and submit it to aec.training@utoronto.ca
  • Reptile Users
    • Complete the Online Ethics module.
    • Complete the Documentation of External Training and submit it to aec.training@utoronto.ca

3. Key Fobs

• Fobs must be obtained from the following department:
  • CSB & EEB users – from the CSB Department, RW401
  • PSY users – from the Psychology Department
• If you need to extend your fob’s expiration, contact your home department no less than 4 weeks before expiration.
• Do NOT share fobs. Report stolen/lost fobs immediately.

4. Orientation & Access

• After the completion of all required training, you will be scheduled an orientation session and facility access.

Animal Use Protocols (AUP)

• You must be added to the Animal Use Protocol before orientation and facility access is to be provided.
• You must receive a copy of the latest version for review.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Institutional (University of Toronto)
  • If you are a student/technician/researcher, ask your supervisor to forward relevant SOPs from the The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation’s (VPRI’s) website.
  • If you are a supervisor/principal investigator, you can access the SOPs through the VPRI website.
• Laboratory-Specific
  • If you are a student/technician/researcher, ask your supervisor or lab manager to forward relevant laboratory SOPs.
  • Laboratory groups are expected to keep their own SOPs up-to-date.
• Local (Facility)
  • BSF Local Standard Working Instructions (SWIs), manuals, and guides for a plethora of topics including microscopy, equipment usage, automation, and tissue slicing/processing can be found here.

NOTE: Additional training is provided on an ongoing basis as necessary to address revisions to regulations, animal care issues, changes in best practices, or at the request of researchers.