Other Approvals

Additional approvals may be required for certain activities, the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated offices to ensure approval is documented BEFORE the volunteer/SRP clearance process can be finalized. If you are not yet approved for any of these activities, there will be a delay in your clearance process as we cannot clear you until you are approved.

The following activities requires additional approvals:

1. Animal Research activities
   • Access to specified species must be approved by the UCLA Animal Research Committee (ARC). To obtain approval:
     • Applicants must complete all necessary ARC requirements (please ask the inviting supervisor how to obtain ARC approval).
   • Certain Departments have their own policies in regards to who can have such accesses, UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated Department Human Resources or designated personnel or approval.
2. Biohazardous Materials access and activities
   • Access to specified biohazardous materials (i.e. human cells, tissues, blood, bacteria, etc.) must be approved by the UCLA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). To obtain approval:
     • Applicants must complete all necessary IBC requirements (please ask the inviting supervisor how to be added to the study protocol Biological Use Authorization [BUA] for IBC Office approval)
3. High-Risk Laboratory Duties (UCLA Students only)
   • Certain Departments have their own policies in regards to who can have such accesses, UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated Department Human Resources or designated personnel or approval.
   • Unfortunately, if not approved, the volunteer assignment information/Scope of Duties Form will be required to be revised.
4. Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approved Studies (Clinical Research only)
   • Access to clinical data, interactions with patients/human research subjects, or conducting approved low-risk study procedures must be IRB approved. To obtain approval:
     • The inviting supervisor(s) must have checked off in Items 2.3 and 2.3.1 that the IRB study will use the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program to assist. The UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program question is located in Section 1.1a - "Other Personnel" (please see highlighted in yellow in screenshot below) and it is Item 2.3. If they answer "Yes", then Item 2.3.1 will appear.
       • 
         For webIRB technical assistance, inviting supervisor(s) can contact the UCLA IRB office.
     • Per policy, the role and responsibilities of a volunteer when assisting with the IRB study are outlined in their approved assignment information (Scope of Duties form) and NOT what is listed in the webIRB. 
     • CITI Training must be completed even if the IRB study is approved to start any clinical research activities.
5. Minor Volunteers in Laboratories
   • Certain Departments have their own policies in regards to who can have such accesses, UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated Department Human Resources or designated personnel or approval.
   • Unfortunately, if not approved, the volunteer assignment information/Scope of Duties Form must be revised or will not be approved for approval.
6. MRI Scanning for 7T (Animal Research) or Assisting as Second Safety 3T (Clinical Research only)
   • Please ensure an Addendum is included in the volunteer assignment (Scope of Duties Form) if any volunteer(s) will be assisting with MRI Scanning activities depending on the location of scanning as duties are restricted:
     1. Brain Mapping Center (7T, Second Safety for 3T, TMS, tDCS)
     2. Staglin Center (Second Safety for 3T)
   • Scope of Duties forms must have this addendum in order for volunteers to proceed with completing the MRI Safety Certification Training.
7. Radioactive Materials and/or Lasers
   • Certain Departments have their own policies in regards to who can have such accesses, UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated Department Human Resources or designated personnel or approval.
   • Unfortunately, if not approved, the volunteer assignment information must be revised.
8. Sharps/Needles access and activities
   • Certain Departments have their own policies in regards to who can have such accesses, UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated Department Human Resources or designated personnel or approval.
   • Unfortunately, if not approved, the volunteer assignment information must be revised BEFORE a volunteer's clearance to start can be finalized.
9. Systems Access (Mednet and/or Care Connect)
   • Certain Departments have their own policies in regards to who can have such accesses, UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program Coordinators will verify with the designated Department Human Resources or designated personnel or approval.
   • Unfortunately, if not approved, the volunteer assignment information must be revised BEFORE a volunteer's clearance to start can be finalized.

For any additional questions NOT listed in our FAQs, please contact the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office.