AALAS Connection

We hope you will consider submitting a topic or abstract for the 2023 National Meeting.

The Program Committee and AALAS President Pam Straeter invite you to submit proposals for abstracts, technical trade presentations, panel discussions, seminars, special topic lectures, and workshops for the 2023 National Meeting.

Go to Abstract Central to access the portal. Those who have before will have a password and username. New users must create an account. The deadline for topic submissions is March 15, and the deadline for abstracts is June 1.

Exhibitor registration is open. Please remember that the exhibitor priority point deadline is February 5, 2022. As an exhibitor, you have an opportunity to interact with more than 4,500 AALAS attendees from the academic community, research institutions, government organizations, and commercial companies.

Interested in partnering with AALAS and supporting our mission? Consider becoming a National Meeting sponsor. Review our 2023 Media Kit on our website and consider the opportunities to promote your products to our AALAS decision-makers. For more information, contact John Farrar at john.farrar@aalas.org.

Six professional and technical categories are recognized at the AALAS National Meeting for excellence in the laboratory animal science field. The six awards which will require nominations are the Bhatt, Brewer, Collins, Garvey, Griffin, and Technician of the Year. Nominees and nominators for all awards must be current national members of AALAS as of January 1 of the nominating year. Nominations are due by April 1, 2023. Over $13,000 in prize money will be awarded!

The 2023 Nominations Committee, chaired by John Park, is looking for our next AALAS leaders. We need your time, energy, and ideas to advance and improve our association and the many programs and benefits we offer to members.

Are you ready for a leadership role?

• Do you want to influence current and future AALAS programs? • Do you want to give back to your professional association? • Do you want to get a sense of satisfaction from helping

AALAS members reach their goals? • Do you want to interact with people who will enrich your life? • Do you want to gain experience, learn new skills, network, and demonstrate your work ethic?

• Do you want to gain more leadership skills? • Do you want to work with and learn from the best association staff anywhere?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider running for one of our open positions!

The ballot for the 2023 AALAS Election has the following open positions: • Vice President-Elect • At-Large Trustee Seat 4 • District 1 Trustee • District 2 Trustee • District 2 Alternate • District 3 Alternate • District 4 Trustee • District 7 Trustee

The qualifications for running for a leadership position can be found on the AALAS website’s nominations page (https:// www.aalas.org/leadership/leadership-nomination) along with details about the application process. Candidates are required to submit an application, candidate agreement, nominating petition (Trustees/Alternates), and CV (Vice President-Elect).

If you are need more information about the time commitment or other required duties, please reach out to former or current Executive Committee Members, Trustees, or the AALAS office.

By Ashlee Vaughn, PhD

Application forms and instructions are now available online for the AALAS Grants for Laboratory Animal Science (GLAS) program. The GLAS program provides two types of research grants: the standard grant, of up to $50,000 for studies with a sound hypothesis and preliminary data; and the small grant, for up to $7,500 for innovative or pilot studies. Applications are due on February 1, 2023.

The GLAS mission is to enhance scientific knowledge in laboratory animal health and welfare through research and to promote collaborative efforts by the AALAS membership within the broader scientific community. The GLAS program contributes to the AALAS mission to advance responsible laboratory animal care and use to benefit people and animals in such areas as environmental conditions, housing and enrichment, pain and distress, health and welfare, euthanasia, and advancements in animal care and use. Since the first grants were awarded in 2007, the GLAS program has awarded 92 grants totaling $1,743,310. As a result of the GLAS program, nearly 400 cited presentations, publications, and posters stemming from GLAS-sponsored projects have been produced and are listed on the AALAS website. Through these outcomes, AALAS has had a visible role in advancing research and knowledge in laboratory animal science. Canada, Spain, and Sweden. The GLAS application form and details about the GLAS program, application instructions, and an application tutorial may be viewed at www.aalas.org/glas. This website also has recordings of the AALAS Scientific Advisory Committee’s perspectives and suggestions to prospective GLAS candidates on how to craft a successful GLAS application. The recordings are the panel discussion and Q&A session from last year’s National Meeting.

If you have a proposal to improve laboratory animal health and welfare in research, we hope you will submit your idea in a GLAS application.

Ashlee Vaughn, PhD, is an Educational Resource Editor at AALAS in Memphis, TN.

The GLAS program requires that the principal investigator be an AALAS member at any level, but it is not restricted geographically. GLAS awards have been made to recipients in